Modern EVs have more than enough range for most daily driving. A base Model 3 goes 270 miles. A Chevy Bolt does 250. Even older Nissan Leafs handle 150 miles.
Yet people still report frustration. Regret. A sense that "something is off."
That contradiction is the real signal.
What People Call "Range Anxiety"
When someone says they have "range anxiety," they're usually describing something else:
- Unreliable charging — the charger near their apartment is broken again
- Shared chargers — their building has 4 spots for 40 units
- Poor routine fit — they moved, changed jobs, or had a kid
- Lack of predictability — they can't count on charging working when they need it
The label "range anxiety" makes it sound like the problem is miles. But most regret stories don't involve running out of battery. They involve running out of patience with the logistics.
The Real Difference: Mental Overhead
Here's what separates EVs from gas cars at a systems level:
ICE anxiety is reactive:
"I'm low on gas. I need to stop now."
EV anxiety is proactive:
"Will charging work this week? Do I need a backup plan?"
Gas stations are fungible. You stop when you need to. One station is roughly the same as another.
EV charging is contextual. Your home charger is fundamentally different from a public DC fast charger. Your apartment building's L2 spot is different from your workplace charger. They have different speeds, different costs, different availability patterns.
Predictability matters more than availability.
A charger that exists but you can't count on creates more friction than no charger at all. Because you plan around it, and then it fails.
Apartment EV Ownership: Nuanced, Conditional
Apartment EV life can work very well. It can also fail badly. The difference is conditions, not ideology.
If you have:
- ✓ Dedicated L2 access (not shared, not first-come)
- ✓ Backup plan within 10–15 minutes (reliable DC fast charger nearby)
- ✓ Flexible schedule (can charge mid-day if needed)
- ✓ Tolerance for occasional friction (broken chargers, occupied spots)
Then apartment EV ownership feels low-friction. People in this situation often love their EVs.
But if you're dealing with:
- ⚠ Shared L2 spots (4 chargers, 40 units)
- ⚠ Time windows ("charging allowed 10pm–6am only")
- ⚠ Rigid obligations (kids, shift work, caregiving)
- ⚠ No nearby backup (closest DC charger is 20+ minutes away)
Then charging becomes weekly overhead. You're not just driving—you're managing logistics. That mental load compounds over time.
The Hidden Skill: Weekly Energy Budgeting
Nobody explains this before you buy, but successful EV owners think in weekly rhythms, not tank-to-tank.
A typical week might look like:
- Sunday night: Charge to 80% (overnight at home or apartment)
- Monday–Wednesday: Daily driving uses 30–40 miles/day
- Wednesday evening: Top-up charge (1–2 hours, gets you to Friday)
- Friday afternoon: Quick DC session before weekend errands
- Saturday: Claw-back day (long errands, maybe hit 20% battery)
This is "waterfall charging"—you're cascading energy across the week, not reacting to empty.
People who treat EVs like gas cars—waiting until low, then scrambling—report the most frustration. Because they're solving the wrong problem.
The skill isn't finding chargers. It's budgeting energy across your actual routine.
Why Some People Love EVs and Others Regret Them
Two people buy the same car in the same city. One loves it. One quietly regrets it.
The difference isn't:
- ❌ Intelligence
- ❌ Commitment to EVs
- ❌ Environmental values
- ❌ Tech-savviness
The difference is routine fit + predictability.
Person A has:
- • Home charging that works 95% of the time
- • Backup DC charger 8 minutes away
- • Predictable weekly routine
- • Low sensitivity to 15-minute detours
Person B has:
- • Apartment charger that's available "most of the time"
- • Shift work with rigid start times
- • Kids' school pickup at 3pm sharp
- • Building policy changed twice this year
Person A barely thinks about charging. Person B thinks about it every Sunday night.
Neither person is wrong. The fit is different.
We built a simple sanity-check to help people spot these mismatches early.
This is a living document. We update it as patterns evolve and new insights emerge from real users.
If this resonates with your experience—or if we got something wrong—let us know.