266 The Emergency Journey Episode
About this episode
Exploring the common concern about emergency long-distance journeys in electric vehicles, this episode breaks down the myth that EV charging significantly delays urgent trips. Using a real-world example of a 500-mile journey from Kent to Edinburgh, it compares EV charging times with petrol refueling and highlights typical road delays that affect all drivers. The discussion also covers alternative travel options like trains, the rarity of critical delays caused by EV charging, and the emotional stress of emergency travel. Practical insights and personal stories help demystify EV range anxiety in urgent situations.
In this episode of EV Musings, Gary explores the commonly cited concern about making emergency long-distance journeys in electric vehicles .
The discussion is prompted by a Tesla Model 3 owner considering switching to a hybrid due to fears of being unable to reach a loved one quickly in an emergency.
Gary dissects this scenario, comparing EV and fossil fuel vehicle travel times, and highlights that delays are often due to traffic, roadworks, or other unpredictable events—not EV charging.
He argues that the emergency journey concern is largely a red herring and that EVs are more than capable of handling such situations. He also suggests that public transport may be a faster and less stressful alternative in many cases.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Links in the show notes:
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
Support me:
Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusings
Ko-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings
The Books:
'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X
'So, you've gone renewable?’ on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIck
Social Media:
EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEv
Instagram: @EVmusings
Octopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460
Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premium
Tesla Model
"...chatting with an acquaintance of mine recently, a Tesla Model 3 driver of around five years, who said that he w..."
Tesla Model 3
"...ng with an acquaintance of mine recently, a Tesla Model 3 driver of around five years, who said that he was..."
Porsche Taycan
"... in an ultra rapid charging car such as a Porsche Taycan or an 800 volt Hyundai or Kia again the charging ..."
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.