The High Cost of Low Range: Estimating the Hidden Cost of Range Anxiety in Electric Vehicles
Abstract
Electric vehicle (EV) drivers experience range anxiety (RA) due to a gap between latent travel demand and battery range. Low fuel prices or limited range exacerbate RA. Range relevance diminishes under high fuel prices, as driving demand is suppressed, while low fuel prices have small effects on RA when range is sufficiently high. We formalize and estimate RA, leveraging the implicit interaction between local electricity prices and range. Results suggest average prospective EV consumers expect $2500–3400/year welfare costs through the RA mechanism. These estimates have strong implications for policies targeting EV ownership, underscoring another channel EV costs exceed conventional vehicles.
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Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
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Cited by
Still being checked.
- Authors
- Scott, J. B., & Qin, M.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas at Dallas (US)
- University of Wisconsin System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Scott, Jonathan B.
- Venue
- The Journal of Industrial Economics
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2025-11-27
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 140-158
- ISSN
- 0022-1821 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-6451
- OpenAlex
- W4416766939
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 29
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Industrial Economics (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technologies
- Keywords
- range anxiety, electric vehicles, battery range, fuel prices, electricity prices, travel demand, welfare costs, customer expectations, car ownership costs
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