Range anxiety. It's the fear that keeps electric vehicle owners awake at night. Should they run out of battery charge half-way to their destination, what will they do? One gets nervous just thinking about it and it's at least one big problem preventing owners of gas-powered cars from buying electric.
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Nissan, who rolled out the all-electric Leaf late in 2010, is listening, and working on a solution that could ease your electric night terrors. In partnership with the Japan Automobile Federation, they are testing a roadside service vehicle capable of recharging a stranded vehicle. Instead of just focusing on building out the electric car infrastructure, which requires charging stations, they are bringing the charging architecture to you.
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It's not clear what the business model will be, but services such as AAA immediately come to mind. A car owner could purchase an annual membership and then just as they may call AAA for assistance with a flat tire or stalled vehicle, they could call for assistance with a dead battery.
I like the idea and think it opens up an entirely new opportunities for business. Do you think you'd be more likely to buy an electric knowing if a recharge were just a phone call away?
Credit: Nissan, AutoGuide
Tags: Cars, Electric Cars, Electric Vehicles, Transportation Infrastructure
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