The Cure to Range Anxiety: Mobile EV Charging Infrastructure
Electric vehicle owners and potential buyers share a lot of the same concerns about the current lack of charging infrastructure. Of these concerns, range anxiety is at the top of the list. But what is range anxiety, and how do we overcome it?
Range anxiety is the driver’s worry that their EV does not have the energy storage needed to reach its destination. This fear alone is one of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of EVs. It also impacts businesses utilizing electric vehicles, since running out of range slows operations and results in decreased efficiency.
Lack of EV Infrastructure
Besides range anxiety, one of the major challenges facing the adoption of electric vehicles is the lack of infrastructure to support them. Public EV charging stations are not as common as gas stations are for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Current charging infrastructure has created areas known as “charging deserts”.
Charging deserts are a result of a lack of or limited charging infrastructure, an issue that poses a threat to the switch to EVs. These areas can be large (hundreds of miles long) or small (dozens of miles long) and are often in rural areas. Simply put, range anxiety is the emotional impact that charging deserts have on EV drivers.
These areas can make it challenging, even impossible, for EV drivers to charge their vehicles. This also makes it extremely difficult for drivers with long routes to safely get to their destination. EV drivers who run out of charge often wait long periods for a flatbed truck since EVs can’t be towed; leaving drivers vulnerable to road hazards. While charging deserts are most commonly found in rural areas, they can also be seen in urban areas where the charging infrastructure is not evenly distributed, making it tough for certain neighborhoods to access charging.
The lack of charging infrastructure in these areas can also be a barrier for businesses and organizations that utilize electric vehicles. Without access to charging stations, these businesses may not be able to function properly. Companies like SparkCharge are working to solve the problem by developing and implementing mobile fast-charging services that can easily deliver the charge to the electric vehicle.
Lack of Reliable Mobile Charging Options
Another problem with current electric vehicle charging infrastructure is the speed at which charging stations can charge. The most common public charging stations are Level 2 EV chargers. A Level 2 charger will take approximately 12 hours to fully charge your vehicle depending on the electric vehicle’s battery power. These make it very impractical for long-distance trips or daily use. For businesses, Level 2 chargers are not fast enough to keep up with the use of the vehicles. There are Level 3 chargers (DC fast charging) that can charge an EV much faster, but they are few and far between as well as much more expensive.
Public charging stations can be unreliable for many reasons. The charging equipment itself can malfunction, need maintenance, or be “ICEd”. Being “ICEd” is when an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle parks in an EV charging spot, preventing an EV from being able to charge. This is a common problem and causes delays in charging making it difficult for electric car drivers drivers to plan their trips.
On average charging stations are down about 35% of the time due to things like malfunctioning equipment, maintenance, power outages, or vandalism. All of these factors are difficult to predict and contribute to an electric car driver’s range anxiety.
The solution for range anxiety for businesses and consumers may sound as simple as installing more infrastructure, but unfortunately, it is not that easy. Long lead times, grid updates, and costly construction/installation make it difficult and expensive to install more high-power public charging stations, but companies like SparkCharge are looking to create innovative solutions.
SparkCharge has created innovative EV charging solutions for both businesses and consumers. Their mobile DC fast charging stations are used to power their delivery service, SparkCharge Mobile App.
SparkCharge Mobile App for consumers is a smartphone app that enables EV owners to order a charge to be delivered to their vehicle when and where they want it. They offer two different options, to select a time block for your delivery or a rush delivery within 90 minutes. SparkCharge Mobile App EV drivers the peace of mind by knowing they have an EV charge available at the tip of their fingers.
Cure Range Anxiety With SparkCharge
SparkCharge also offers charging-as-a-service for businesses. In addition to the EV charge delivery service, they offer businesses a charge management system (CMS), SparkCharge Connect, for easy monitoring and operations. Each charging plan for businesses is completely customizable so your business can get exactly what they need. Additionally, because we are not a fixed infrastructure, SparkChrage’s CaaS programs can scale with your business needs to keep up with growing demand.
Range anxiety is a legitimate concern for many electric vehicle (EV) drivers, as the fear of running out of energy can be stressful and disruptive. Public charging stations are not fully equipped to be a solution for range anxiety as they have limited availability, unreliable equipment, and slow charging speeds. Companies like SparkCharge are dedicated to creating products and services that provide a solution to range anxiety. Mobile EV charging is the key to solving the shortcomings of fixed infrastructure and giving businesses and consumers peace of mind when it comes to charging their electric cars.