EV range anxiety fades as real-world driving proves easier

Fear of running out of charge remains one of the main reasons shoppers hesitate to switch to electric cars. Yet real-world experience shows those concerns tend to fade once people start driving an EV.

Battery-health analytics startup Recurrent published 2025 findings based on data from the nonprofit Plug In America. According to the study, 48% of would-be buyers felt persistent range anxiety before purchase; after they began using an electric car, that share dropped to 22%.

The report also notes that pre-purchase concern fell by 21.7% compared to 2024, a shift attributed to longer real-world range in today’s models and the expanding charging network.

Additional figures show most owners use only a fraction of what their cars can do. On average, EVs tap about 12.6% of their available range on everyday trips. Even drivers of models capable of more than 350 miles (564 km) leave over 88% of that capability unused almost every day.

Researchers stress that the typical U.S. driver covers 30–40 miles (48–65 km) a day, while modern electric cars deliver roughly 300 miles (480 km). For city life, that makes EVs a practical choice that doesn’t require constant full charges—something that, in daily use, naturally eases the nerves.