Myth: Roadtrips are impossible with electric vehicles because of the need to recharge. Charging an EV is lengthy and inconvenient

Myth: Roadtrips are impossible with electric vehicles because of the need to recharge. Charging an EV is lengthy and inconvenient

RethinkX | 6 May 2024

False. Charging infrastructure is expanding worldwide, and long-distance road travel in electric vehicles (EVs) is already feasible in the U.S.

Also, charging times are shortening as battery and charger technology both improve.

Explore the evidence...

The charging capacity of EVs is improving every year, and although charging needs to happen more often than a gas refill, the actual car does not need to be replaced. Read p58-59 of our Rethinking Transportation report to learn more about battery degradation.
The disruption of technology will come from Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS). This is where owner operated fleets of autonomous electric vehicles (A-EVs) become the preference over individually owned vehicles, even for long-distance drives. On p15-16 of our report Rethinking Transportation we provide a summary of the disruption of TaaS.
By 2030, within 10 years of regulatory approval of fully autonomous vehicles, 95% of all U.S. passenger miles will be served by TaaS providers who will own and operate fleets of A-EVs providing passengers with higher levels of service, faster rides and vastly increased safety at a cost up to 10 times cheaper than today’s individually owned vehicles. These fleets will include a wide variety of vehicle types, sizes and configurations that meet every kind of consumer need, from transporting children to hauling equipment. On p16-19 of our report Rethinking Transportation we discuss the future of TaaS
Tesloop, a robotaxi service in the U.S. is currently able to provide long-distance driver service, and charges its vehicles up to five times per day to 100% using superchargers. Read more about Tesloop on p20 of our Rethinking Transportation report.
Charging fleets of A-EVs will increase our electricity demand by 18%. However, by scheduling A-EV charging in off-peak periods, we believe that the existing infrastructure can absorb an 18% increase in demand without material investments in generation infrastructure. Read more about the implications of TaaS on p48-55 of our report Rethinking Transportation.

Witness the transformation

TaaS is the future of our travel, from road trips to freight.

Read more about the disruption of transportation.

Published on: 12/07/23

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How will the disruption play out in India, Southeast Asia, Africa and other places where consumers are very price-sensitive?

How will the roads be financed when there is no gas tax? Will there be an electronic distance-based toll system?

How many jobs will be created by the disruption of transportation? How many jobs will be destroyed?

What will happen to the existing fleet of vehicles as a result of the transportation disruption? Can these vehicles be converted to EVs? A-EVs?

Myth: “I could never give up my car!”

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