Range anxiety is the most cited reason buyers hesitate on electric cars. But when you look at how far people actually drive on a typical day, the fear rarely matches the data.
What the numbers say
Studies of anonymised trip data across Europe show the median daily distance driven is under 40 kilometres. Even the 95th percentile — the busiest drivers — rarely exceeds 120 km in a day. A modern EV with 350 km of real range can cover a full week of typical use on a single charge.
When range really matters
The exception is the long road trip. Here, charging speed matters more than total range: a car that adds 250 km in 15 minutes changes the experience more than a bigger battery that charges slowly.
The honest takeaway: for most drivers, a 350–400 km EV is more than enough. Spending double for a 600 km battery is, for most use cases, paying for peace of mind you will rarely cash in.