KXLY
July 7, 2021 2:36 PM
Philip Reed
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While the first electric vehicles were great for commuting, their limited range — about 100 miles on a charge — kept them close to home. Now a bumper crop of new electric cars, with bigger batteries and fast charging connectors, is headed for the market, allowing EV drivers to expand their horizons.
“Once you see the abundance of charging stations, it takes the anxiety out of taking a road trip in an EV,” says Dave Nichols, an editor at GreenCars.com, which provides information and shopping advice for hybrids and electric cars.
Feeling a bit of cabin fever after months of shelter in place, I decided to try driving my new 2021 Hyundai Kona EV to Buellton, California, about 160 miles away from my home in the Los Angeles area. I knew my car, with 258 miles of range, would need a charge to complete the round trip, and I wanted to see firsthand if broken or crowded chargers or any other unexpected problems would slow me down.