Six months into the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) trial, Aston University researchers have revealed that drivers are travelling more miles more frequently and are undertaking longer journeys – indicating increased confidence and notably reduced ’range anxiety’.
Cost-conscious prospective EV drivers may also be interested to learn that the average cost to trial participants recharging at home is between just 25 pence and £1 per day.
The data, analysed by the researchers, combines and compares the behaviour patterns of 25 Mitsubishi i-MiEV drivers over two consecutive quarters. The results form part of the CABLED project, which will see an overall total of 110 ultra-low-carbon vehicles from different manufacturers tested on the roads of Birmingham and Coventry as part of a £7.5m, year-long government scheme.
Aston has been using satellite mapping and computer technologies to collate journey data to give a greater understanding into consumer behaviour and to how individual EVs perform in a real-world environment. This data will also be used to map out a future network of electric charging points in order to further extend range and improve the convenience of EVs.
The CABLED results at this stage show that Mitsubishi i-MiEV can travel around 80 miles when fully charged and that, on average, drivers are using less than 30 per cent of their total vehicle charge in a typical daily use.
The average charge time per i-MiEV vehicle is two hours, providing enough charge for between 20 and 40 miles of travel at a cost of between 40 pence and £1, depending on the tariff.
The researchers have also found that drivers habitually charge their vehicles, whether the battery is half full or nearly empty, in much the same way as a laptop or a mobile phone.
The most popular time to charge vehicles is overnight, but as around eight in 10 journeys use less than 18 per cent of the battery, five average-length journeys could be completed on one charge.
As electric cars hit the UK’s roads in greater numbers, the development of infrastructure is a key consideration. Click here to read more.
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