The idea of being far from home with your electric car’s battery slowly dying is scary. Indeed, the idea of EVs running out of battery while on a drive is a major factor in why many people don’t buy electric cars.
Your car can run out of battery for many reasons. Perhaps you misjudged how far you have to travel, ignored your car’s warnings, didn’t charge at the last station, or perhaps you forgot to charge last night and didn’t consider that your EV wasn’t full when you set off. It can happen to anybody.
All new petrol or diesel car sales will be banned in the United Kingdom in 2030, so everyone will need to be prepared for this eventuality and know what to do in case their EV suddenly runs out of power.
Range anxiety is when you worry about not having enough battery power to get you where you need to go. Range anxiety can be very stressful and has put many people off buying EVs in the past as petrol or diesel cars generally have larger ranges, although EVs are catching up.
Range anxiety was a huge issue for first-generation EVs like the Nissan Leaf, which had small batteries and thus limited ranges, which meant they couldn’t travel very far. Each journey had to be meticulously planned to avoid running out of power in the middle of nowhere.
Honestly, there isn’t as much reason to worry nowadays. It can still affect small city cars with small batteries, but most EVs have big enough batteries that their range is large enough to get to most places. Cars like the Renault Zoe have 245 miles of range, and the latest Tesla range can exceed 350 miles.
There are so many charging stations nowadays that range anxiety doesn’t need to be a serious consideration. You are more than likely near a charger wherever you are. As EVs continue to improve, there will be less reason for range anxiety as they will offer higher and more accurate range estimates.
If you still suffer from range anxiety, you can always calm yourself through preparation and knowledge.
The best way to avoid running out of battery is to ensure you’re never in that position; this is much easier nowadays with improved EVs.
Be careful not to charge your EV to 100% too often or drain it to 0%, as doing either can damage your battery condition, limiting your battery life and range.
Your EV is most likely to run out of battery when you don’t plan a long journey well enough and are driving unfamiliar routes.
If you’re going on a long drive, try to plan stops with your range in mind. Doing this allows you to stop at charging locations along the route and never have to worry about your range.
A route planner can help you plan journeys around charging stations. Route planners, like Bonnet, can help you avoid running out of power on long-distance drives.
It might seem obvious, but before taking a long drive, charge your EV so that it starts with maximum power. Depending on how far you drive, this simple step could mean you won’t have to charge. Calculate the distance you’re travelling and compare it to your electric car’s range.
You can’t literally extend your EV’s range, but you can do things to prolong it as much as possible. Knowing how to do this won’t save you hundreds of miles worth of range, but it can give you just enough power to reach the nearest charging station.
To extend your range, you should use regenerative braking, slow down your EV’s acceleration and plan your route thoroughly, avoiding steep gradients.
Turn off auxiliary functions like air conditioning and climate control. Be aware of climate temperature as that also affects range. Limit car weight; the heavier the car, the more power it needs.
The faster you drive, the more power the EV drains, so limit your speed as much as possible. You may have to avoid motorways or other high-speed areas. Try to drive as smoothly as possible to prolong your range.
One reason range anxiety isn’t a big deal anymore is that EVs now travel further without needing to charge. With so many chargers in the UK now, you’re never far from one.
More chargers are built every year, and there are currently over 42,000 chargers in the UK, making it easier to charge than ever before. There are more charging locations than UK petrol stations, so there’s more reason to have fuel anxiety than range anxiety.
Any modern EV will let you know when your battery is running low. When this happens, you should quickly use an app like Bonnet for directions to your nearest charger.
Bonnet is our excellent app that can provide you access to thousands of charging stations across the UK. We’ve partnered with public charging networks with chargers in most counties and provide a wide range of chargers at many speeds.
Our partners have chargers by motorways to help you charge on the road and chargers in urban areas so that you charge before your big journey.
Access our partners' charging stations and save up to 15% with our membership option Bonnet Boosts.
You will normally need to download a different app for each network if you want to access multiple public charging stations. You don’t need to clutter your phone and drain your battery to charge. You just need Bonnet, which lets you access over 17 public charging networks with just one app.
Modern EVs will tell you when your power is low, and you should start looking for a charging station. Running out of power with current generation EVs’ large ranges isn’t likely, but it is possible.
Electric cars give advanced warnings about your power to keep you safe and alert you to the situation. Every car has a different set of warnings it will give you, but they generally share a few:
If your EV runs out of power, quickly pull over to the side of the road where it is safe and flat. Turn your EV’s wheels away from the road and put the parking brake on.
Once you’ve secured your vehicle, turn on your hazard warning lights to alert other motorists of your location to prevent accidents. Use your phone or map to quickly assess where exactly you are and make a note of your location.
Contact your roadside assistance provider to alert them that you have run out of power, and follow their steps. You might want to quickly phone friends and family and tell them you’ve broken down.
What sort of roadside assistance you receive and the instructions you get differ depending on which recovery company you’ve signed up for.
Many providers offer recovery packages. For example, Nissan offers EV Roadside Assistance to Leaf owners, and many other auto manufacturers offer similar recovery assistance to help out their drivers.
The AA & RAC offer breakdown cover for EVs that have run out of charge. They are both very reliable and have good response times, so they are very popular among EV drivers. They can reach you and help you wherever you break down.
What does ‘roadside assistance’ entail for electric cars?
Well, that depends on the provider; however, most of them will bring your EV from your breakdown location to the nearest charging station on a flatbed. While there, you might want to either charge your EV fully or just enough to get home if you dislike the station’s prices or charging speeds.
Some providers will not carry you to a charger but will give you just enough charge to enable you to drive yourself to one.
If you’ve got deep pockets, you might be interested in purchasing a mobile EV charger that can charge your car in the middle of nowhere, miles from the nearest charging station.
These chargers are large and expensive, almost as expensive as the battery itself, but if you can afford one, it could be very handy. If you use it frequently, it might even become good value for money and save you a lot of waiting time for roadside assistance.
Yes, EVs can be jump-started. Electric cars have two batteries. The first is a large lithium-ion battery that powers your EV for driving. The second battery is a smaller 12-volt that powers auxiliary functions.
The 12-volt battery is used to power your car’s radio, wipers, heated seats and other features your vehicle may offer. Another function it provides is ensuring the lithium-ion battery can be charged.
You can jump-start your 12-volt battery using traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
Jump-starting an EV is no different from how you jump-start any other vehicle, but consult your car’s manual before doing so. Check with the manual where your vehicles’ batteries are stored and how to attach jump leads.
Be warned, you can’t jump-start an electric car with another electric car, nor can you jump-start a petrol or diesel vehicle with an EV. Doing either of these options could damage your 12-volt battery seriously.
Generally, EVs can’t be towed because they don’t have neutral positions in their transmission, and their wheels are attached to the motors, so when they turn, so does the motor.
If you have no power and turn the wheels, the motor could overheat and be damaged. Providers generally carry the EV on a flatbed truck rather than tow you to the nearest charging point to avoid damaging your car.
This isn’t the case with all electric cars, and some models can be towed, such as the Nissan Leaf, which has only its front two wheels attached to the motor, so as long as the front wheels are raised, it can be towed without an issue.
To avoid being stranded in the middle of nowhere, you must get a recovery provider in case of emergencies. However, with large EV ranges and so many charging options, you shouldn’t run out of power as long as you plan your journeys.
If you pay attention to the warning signs your EV gives you, there will be no need for range anxiety. When your electric car alerts you, you should drive to the nearest charging station as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure where your nearest charger is, you should download Bonnet, which allows you to access thousands of chargers across the UK with just one app.
Make charging stress free, and download Bonnet today.
Yes, you can jump-start an electric car’s 12-volt battery, giving you enough power to crawl to a nearby charging station. Don’t jump-start your EV with another EV, as this can damage your 12-volt battery.
Dormant electric cars lose a minimal amount of their charge. This power loss is because even when the car is not in use, the EV’s battery still needs to power some electrical systems, thus using a small amount of power.
Electric cars come with two batteries. One battery stores electricity and powers the electric motors, while the other maintains auxiliary functions and can give you reserve power.
Yes. Many electric cars come with a domestic adapter, allowing you to charge at a regular wall socket. They will usually charge your EV at speeds of 3 kW per hour. If your electric vehicle doesn’t come with a domestic adapter, you can buy one.
The idea of being far from home with your electric car’s battery slowly dying is scary. Indeed, the idea of EVs running out of battery while on a drive is a major factor in why many people don’t buy electric cars.
Your car can run out of battery for many reasons. Perhaps you misjudged how far you have to travel, ignored your car’s warnings, didn’t charge at the last station, or perhaps you forgot to charge last night and didn’t consider that your EV wasn’t full when you set off. It can happen to anybody.
All new petrol or diesel car sales will be banned in the United Kingdom in 2030, so everyone will need to be prepared for this eventuality and know what to do in case their EV suddenly runs out of power.
Range anxiety is when you worry about not having enough battery power to get you where you need to go. Range anxiety can be very stressful and has put many people off buying EVs in the past as petrol or diesel cars generally have larger ranges, although EVs are catching up.
Range anxiety was a huge issue for first-generation EVs like the Nissan Leaf, which had small batteries and thus limited ranges, which meant they couldn’t travel very far. Each journey had to be meticulously planned to avoid running out of power in the middle of nowhere.
Honestly, there isn’t as much reason to worry nowadays. It can still affect small city cars with small batteries, but most EVs have big enough batteries that their range is large enough to get to most places. Cars like the Renault Zoe have 245 miles of range, and the latest Tesla range can exceed 350 miles.
There are so many charging stations nowadays that range anxiety doesn’t need to be a serious consideration. You are more than likely near a charger wherever you are. As EVs continue to improve, there will be less reason for range anxiety as they will offer higher and more accurate range estimates.
If you still suffer from range anxiety, you can always calm yourself through preparation and knowledge.
The best way to avoid running out of battery is to ensure you’re never in that position; this is much easier nowadays with improved EVs.
Be careful not to charge your EV to 100% too often or drain it to 0%, as doing either can damage your battery condition, limiting your battery life and range.
Your EV is most likely to run out of battery when you don’t plan a long journey well enough and are driving unfamiliar routes.
If you’re going on a long drive, try to plan stops with your range in mind. Doing this allows you to stop at charging locations along the route and never have to worry about your range.
A route planner can help you plan journeys around charging stations. Route planners, like Bonnet, can help you avoid running out of power on long-distance drives.
It might seem obvious, but before taking a long drive, charge your EV so that it starts with maximum power. Depending on how far you drive, this simple step could mean you won’t have to charge. Calculate the distance you’re travelling and compare it to your electric car’s range.
You can’t literally extend your EV’s range, but you can do things to prolong it as much as possible. Knowing how to do this won’t save you hundreds of miles worth of range, but it can give you just enough power to reach the nearest charging station.
To extend your range, you should use regenerative braking, slow down your EV’s acceleration and plan your route thoroughly, avoiding steep gradients.
Turn off auxiliary functions like air conditioning and climate control. Be aware of climate temperature as that also affects range. Limit car weight; the heavier the car, the more power it needs.
The faster you drive, the more power the EV drains, so limit your speed as much as possible. You may have to avoid motorways or other high-speed areas. Try to drive as smoothly as possible to prolong your range.
One reason range anxiety isn’t a big deal anymore is that EVs now travel further without needing to charge. With so many chargers in the UK now, you’re never far from one.
More chargers are built every year, and there are currently over 42,000 chargers in the UK, making it easier to charge than ever before. There are more charging locations than UK petrol stations, so there’s more reason to have fuel anxiety than range anxiety.
Any modern EV will let you know when your battery is running low. When this happens, you should quickly use an app like Bonnet for directions to your nearest charger.
Bonnet is our excellent app that can provide you access to thousands of charging stations across the UK. We’ve partnered with public charging networks with chargers in most counties and provide a wide range of chargers at many speeds.
Our partners have chargers by motorways to help you charge on the road and chargers in urban areas so that you charge before your big journey.
Access our partners' charging stations and save up to 15% with our membership option Bonnet Boosts.
You will normally need to download a different app for each network if you want to access multiple public charging stations. You don’t need to clutter your phone and drain your battery to charge. You just need Bonnet, which lets you access over 17 public charging networks with just one app.
Modern EVs will tell you when your power is low, and you should start looking for a charging station. Running out of power with current generation EVs’ large ranges isn’t likely, but it is possible.
Electric cars give advanced warnings about your power to keep you safe and alert you to the situation. Every car has a different set of warnings it will give you, but they generally share a few:
If your EV runs out of power, quickly pull over to the side of the road where it is safe and flat. Turn your EV’s wheels away from the road and put the parking brake on.
Once you’ve secured your vehicle, turn on your hazard warning lights to alert other motorists of your location to prevent accidents. Use your phone or map to quickly assess where exactly you are and make a note of your location.
Contact your roadside assistance provider to alert them that you have run out of power, and follow their steps. You might want to quickly phone friends and family and tell them you’ve broken down.
What sort of roadside assistance you receive and the instructions you get differ depending on which recovery company you’ve signed up for.
Many providers offer recovery packages. For example, Nissan offers EV Roadside Assistance to Leaf owners, and many other auto manufacturers offer similar recovery assistance to help out their drivers.
The AA & RAC offer breakdown cover for EVs that have run out of charge. They are both very reliable and have good response times, so they are very popular among EV drivers. They can reach you and help you wherever you break down.
What does ‘roadside assistance’ entail for electric cars?
Well, that depends on the provider; however, most of them will bring your EV from your breakdown location to the nearest charging station on a flatbed. While there, you might want to either charge your EV fully or just enough to get home if you dislike the station’s prices or charging speeds.
Some providers will not carry you to a charger but will give you just enough charge to enable you to drive yourself to one.
If you’ve got deep pockets, you might be interested in purchasing a mobile EV charger that can charge your car in the middle of nowhere, miles from the nearest charging station.
These chargers are large and expensive, almost as expensive as the battery itself, but if you can afford one, it could be very handy. If you use it frequently, it might even become good value for money and save you a lot of waiting time for roadside assistance.
Yes, EVs can be jump-started. Electric cars have two batteries. The first is a large lithium-ion battery that powers your EV for driving. The second battery is a smaller 12-volt that powers auxiliary functions.
The 12-volt battery is used to power your car’s radio, wipers, heated seats and other features your vehicle may offer. Another function it provides is ensuring the lithium-ion battery can be charged.
You can jump-start your 12-volt battery using traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
Jump-starting an EV is no different from how you jump-start any other vehicle, but consult your car’s manual before doing so. Check with the manual where your vehicles’ batteries are stored and how to attach jump leads.
Be warned, you can’t jump-start an electric car with another electric car, nor can you jump-start a petrol or diesel vehicle with an EV. Doing either of these options could damage your 12-volt battery seriously.
Generally, EVs can’t be towed because they don’t have neutral positions in their transmission, and their wheels are attached to the motors, so when they turn, so does the motor.
If you have no power and turn the wheels, the motor could overheat and be damaged. Providers generally carry the EV on a flatbed truck rather than tow you to the nearest charging point to avoid damaging your car.
This isn’t the case with all electric cars, and some models can be towed, such as the Nissan Leaf, which has only its front two wheels attached to the motor, so as long as the front wheels are raised, it can be towed without an issue.
To avoid being stranded in the middle of nowhere, you must get a recovery provider in case of emergencies. However, with large EV ranges and so many charging options, you shouldn’t run out of power as long as you plan your journeys.
If you pay attention to the warning signs your EV gives you, there will be no need for range anxiety. When your electric car alerts you, you should drive to the nearest charging station as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure where your nearest charger is, you should download Bonnet, which allows you to access thousands of chargers across the UK with just one app.
Make charging stress free, and download Bonnet today.
The idea of being far from home with your electric car’s battery slowly dying is scary. Indeed, the idea of EVs running out of battery while on a drive is a major factor in why many people don’t buy electric cars.
Your car can run out of battery for many reasons. Perhaps you misjudged how far you have to travel, ignored your car’s warnings, didn’t charge at the last station, or perhaps you forgot to charge last night and didn’t consider that your EV wasn’t full when you set off. It can happen to anybody.
All new petrol or diesel car sales will be banned in the United Kingdom in 2030, so everyone will need to be prepared for this eventuality and know what to do in case their EV suddenly runs out of power.
Range anxiety is when you worry about not having enough battery power to get you where you need to go. Range anxiety can be very stressful and has put many people off buying EVs in the past as petrol or diesel cars generally have larger ranges, although EVs are catching up.
Range anxiety was a huge issue for first-generation EVs like the Nissan Leaf, which had small batteries and thus limited ranges, which meant they couldn’t travel very far. Each journey had to be meticulously planned to avoid running out of power in the middle of nowhere.
Honestly, there isn’t as much reason to worry nowadays. It can still affect small city cars with small batteries, but most EVs have big enough batteries that their range is large enough to get to most places. Cars like the Renault Zoe have 245 miles of range, and the latest Tesla range can exceed 350 miles.
There are so many charging stations nowadays that range anxiety doesn’t need to be a serious consideration. You are more than likely near a charger wherever you are. As EVs continue to improve, there will be less reason for range anxiety as they will offer higher and more accurate range estimates.
If you still suffer from range anxiety, you can always calm yourself through preparation and knowledge.
The best way to avoid running out of battery is to ensure you’re never in that position; this is much easier nowadays with improved EVs.
Be careful not to charge your EV to 100% too often or drain it to 0%, as doing either can damage your battery condition, limiting your battery life and range.
Your EV is most likely to run out of battery when you don’t plan a long journey well enough and are driving unfamiliar routes.
If you’re going on a long drive, try to plan stops with your range in mind. Doing this allows you to stop at charging locations along the route and never have to worry about your range.
A route planner can help you plan journeys around charging stations. Route planners, like Bonnet, can help you avoid running out of power on long-distance drives.
It might seem obvious, but before taking a long drive, charge your EV so that it starts with maximum power. Depending on how far you drive, this simple step could mean you won’t have to charge. Calculate the distance you’re travelling and compare it to your electric car’s range.
You can’t literally extend your EV’s range, but you can do things to prolong it as much as possible. Knowing how to do this won’t save you hundreds of miles worth of range, but it can give you just enough power to reach the nearest charging station.
To extend your range, you should use regenerative braking, slow down your EV’s acceleration and plan your route thoroughly, avoiding steep gradients.
Turn off auxiliary functions like air conditioning and climate control. Be aware of climate temperature as that also affects range. Limit car weight; the heavier the car, the more power it needs.
The faster you drive, the more power the EV drains, so limit your speed as much as possible. You may have to avoid motorways or other high-speed areas. Try to drive as smoothly as possible to prolong your range.
One reason range anxiety isn’t a big deal anymore is that EVs now travel further without needing to charge. With so many chargers in the UK now, you’re never far from one.
More chargers are built every year, and there are currently over 42,000 chargers in the UK, making it easier to charge than ever before. There are more charging locations than UK petrol stations, so there’s more reason to have fuel anxiety than range anxiety.
Any modern EV will let you know when your battery is running low. When this happens, you should quickly use an app like Bonnet for directions to your nearest charger.
Bonnet is our excellent app that can provide you access to thousands of charging stations across the UK. We’ve partnered with public charging networks with chargers in most counties and provide a wide range of chargers at many speeds.
Our partners have chargers by motorways to help you charge on the road and chargers in urban areas so that you charge before your big journey.
Access our partners' charging stations and save up to 15% with our membership option Bonnet Boosts.
You will normally need to download a different app for each network if you want to access multiple public charging stations. You don’t need to clutter your phone and drain your battery to charge. You just need Bonnet, which lets you access over 17 public charging networks with just one app.
Modern EVs will tell you when your power is low, and you should start looking for a charging station. Running out of power with current generation EVs’ large ranges isn’t likely, but it is possible.
Electric cars give advanced warnings about your power to keep you safe and alert you to the situation. Every car has a different set of warnings it will give you, but they generally share a few:
If your EV runs out of power, quickly pull over to the side of the road where it is safe and flat. Turn your EV’s wheels away from the road and put the parking brake on.
Once you’ve secured your vehicle, turn on your hazard warning lights to alert other motorists of your location to prevent accidents. Use your phone or map to quickly assess where exactly you are and make a note of your location.
Contact your roadside assistance provider to alert them that you have run out of power, and follow their steps. You might want to quickly phone friends and family and tell them you’ve broken down.
What sort of roadside assistance you receive and the instructions you get differ depending on which recovery company you’ve signed up for.
Many providers offer recovery packages. For example, Nissan offers EV Roadside Assistance to Leaf owners, and many other auto manufacturers offer similar recovery assistance to help out their drivers.
The AA & RAC offer breakdown cover for EVs that have run out of charge. They are both very reliable and have good response times, so they are very popular among EV drivers. They can reach you and help you wherever you break down.
What does ‘roadside assistance’ entail for electric cars?
Well, that depends on the provider; however, most of them will bring your EV from your breakdown location to the nearest charging station on a flatbed. While there, you might want to either charge your EV fully or just enough to get home if you dislike the station’s prices or charging speeds.
Some providers will not carry you to a charger but will give you just enough charge to enable you to drive yourself to one.
If you’ve got deep pockets, you might be interested in purchasing a mobile EV charger that can charge your car in the middle of nowhere, miles from the nearest charging station.
These chargers are large and expensive, almost as expensive as the battery itself, but if you can afford one, it could be very handy. If you use it frequently, it might even become good value for money and save you a lot of waiting time for roadside assistance.
Yes, EVs can be jump-started. Electric cars have two batteries. The first is a large lithium-ion battery that powers your EV for driving. The second battery is a smaller 12-volt that powers auxiliary functions.
The 12-volt battery is used to power your car’s radio, wipers, heated seats and other features your vehicle may offer. Another function it provides is ensuring the lithium-ion battery can be charged.
You can jump-start your 12-volt battery using traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
Jump-starting an EV is no different from how you jump-start any other vehicle, but consult your car’s manual before doing so. Check with the manual where your vehicles’ batteries are stored and how to attach jump leads.
Be warned, you can’t jump-start an electric car with another electric car, nor can you jump-start a petrol or diesel vehicle with an EV. Doing either of these options could damage your 12-volt battery seriously.
Generally, EVs can’t be towed because they don’t have neutral positions in their transmission, and their wheels are attached to the motors, so when they turn, so does the motor.
If you have no power and turn the wheels, the motor could overheat and be damaged. Providers generally carry the EV on a flatbed truck rather than tow you to the nearest charging point to avoid damaging your car.
This isn’t the case with all electric cars, and some models can be towed, such as the Nissan Leaf, which has only its front two wheels attached to the motor, so as long as the front wheels are raised, it can be towed without an issue.
To avoid being stranded in the middle of nowhere, you must get a recovery provider in case of emergencies. However, with large EV ranges and so many charging options, you shouldn’t run out of power as long as you plan your journeys.
If you pay attention to the warning signs your EV gives you, there will be no need for range anxiety. When your electric car alerts you, you should drive to the nearest charging station as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure where your nearest charger is, you should download Bonnet, which allows you to access thousands of chargers across the UK with just one app.
Make charging stress free, and download Bonnet today.
Yes, you can jump-start an electric car’s 12-volt battery, giving you enough power to crawl to a nearby charging station. Don’t jump-start your EV with another EV, as this can damage your 12-volt battery.
Dormant electric cars lose a minimal amount of their charge. This power loss is because even when the car is not in use, the EV’s battery still needs to power some electrical systems, thus using a small amount of power.
Electric cars come with two batteries. One battery stores electricity and powers the electric motors, while the other maintains auxiliary functions and can give you reserve power.
Yes. Many electric cars come with a domestic adapter, allowing you to charge at a regular wall socket. They will usually charge your EV at speeds of 3 kW per hour. If your electric vehicle doesn’t come with a domestic adapter, you can buy one.
