Want An EV With No Range Anxiety? It’s A Plug-In Hybrid
Done right, PHEVs are EVs 80–90% of the time
Now that most of the EV early adopters with money to spare have done their early adopting, the challenge is to get everyone else to take the plunge into electrified driving. This second phase has been more difficult than the Biden administration, EV-enthusiastic car manufacturers, and environmentalists had been hoping — and for good reason. While early adopters are willing to endure some troubleshooting, extra planning, and additional costs and hassles to be in the first wave of EVs, many mainstream car buyers just want an EV that basically works (and refuels) like an internal combustion engine (ICE) car does, but with electricity. Therein lies the problem — America’s electric charging infrastructure is nowhere near as widespread, reliable, fast, and convenient as it is for gas, which enjoys a decades-long head start and all the ubiquity and familiarity that entails.
This is where range anxiety becomes a factor. Studies have shown that for potential EV buyers, the main reason not to buy an EV is the fear that if they’re running low on juice, they won’t be able to find a conveniently located charging station. And if they do, they are worried that the charging station won’t work, will take too long to adequately charge their EV, or will be occupied by another EV in the midst of a…
