Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

This AAA change is great news for electric vehicle drivers with range anxiety

AAA and Blink partner to increase EV assistance across the U.S.

Lou Ruggieri
By
ev charging in sunny weather
Blue Planet Studio / Shutterstock

We’ve all been there. Heading down the highway, radio on, focused on your destination and the rest of the day to come and bang! Suddenly, your tire starts flapping, and the steering wheel is rumbling and shaking in your hands as you struggle to fight it to the shoulder without getting demolished along the way. Once you get the car to the side of the road, survey the damage, and calm yourself down, it’s time to get to work and grab the spare tire. That’s when you open the trunk and find the spare tire is flat. At this moment, you either commend yourself for signing up for that AAA membership or begin an expletive-ridden tirade for not signing up when you had the chance.

Until recently, despite a plethora of high-end, exciting luxury EVs, this issue was one of the biggest fears of motorists regarding unforeseen issues when it comes to driving. But in the new electric world, a growing fear that is so prevalent that it actually dissuades many potential buyers from going electric is something called “range anxiety,” which is the concern that their battery-operated auto will die before a charging station is even in sight. But, thankfully, AAA is once again here to save the day thanks to a new partnership with charging station manufacturer Blink.

Recommended Videos

AAA and Blink are charging ahead to help more drivers

Building off of their initial collaboration in 2019 when AAA signed on to use Blink’s first-gen Mobile Charger, the new program is set to begin by allowing 19 AAA clubs and affiliates access to Blink’s expanding EV charging stations across the country, totaling more than 60,000 locations. This agreement entitles AAA access to a discount on pricing and a simplified ordering process for those cheaper units. Chief Revenue Officer for Blink Charging said of their collaboration with AAA, “We are thrilled to cooperate with AAA, enabling clubs and service providers to build a robust EV charging infrastructure using Blink’s extensive line of products and solutions.”

Related

The idea is simple, brilliant, and couldn’t have had better timing. EV sales are growing at an extraordinary rate, helped by studies proving that switching to electric vehicles can improve our health and planet. Once we got used to driving a car that made almost no noise, the next big issue was figuring out how to recharge these big batteries quickly, as not everyone seemed to enjoy waiting hours on end to drive their Tesla.

Once those issues were taken care of, it was time to tackle our collective concerns about battery life and how it may be affected by hot or cold weather and the associated anxiety caused by the idea of being stranded in the middle of nowhere. AAA has helped abate those fears with conventional gas-powered cars for over 120 years, and now, with this new agreement, AAA clubs can attract and help EV customers in much the same way. The Automotive Managing Director of AAA, Inc. said, “Today, EVs play a pivotal role in the changing automotive industry, and AAA is thrilled to welcome Blink as a Preferred Supplier providing roadside EV solutions to our members.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lou Ruggieri
Lou Ruggieri
Writer
A lifelong lover of cars, Lou contributes to Motor Trend, Hot Cars, Auto & Truck Connection, and the PowerAutoMedia Group.
Lucid takes aim at Tesla Model 3, Model Y with $50K EV plans
Lucid may have started with premium models, but going head-to-head with the Tesla Model Y was always the plan
Lucid Air Sapphire on the road

Outside of discussing dreams, if you aren't familiar with what 'Lucid' represents in the world, don't worry; you're not alone, and we're here to help. In short, Lucid is the new Tesla... sort of. Lucid is an electric car manufacturer founded in 2007 under the name Atieva in part by former Tesla Motors VP Bernard Tse. Beyond their co-founder, Lucid's CEO, Peter Rawlinson, is also a former Tesla employee who served as chief engineer of the Model S at Tesla. Almost a decade later, in 2016, Atieva was rebranded as Lucid Motors and announced its first car, the Lucid Air, was set for production to compete at the luxury level against top-tier and expensive models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and, of course, Tesla. But, Lucid's CEO recently interviewed with ABC News and announced that Lucid's newest project will target not only a much lower and affordable pricepoint but also the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
Lucid wants to appeal to your heart, not just your pocket
It seems clear that electric cars are the wave of the future, with a myriad of benefits to not only the world but also to our health as well. But, to get the majority of drivers on board, electric cars will need to offer more. Clearly aware of this, in the interview with ABC News, Rawlinson spoke reverently of the lure electric cars possess, saying, "The feeling of the road, the feedback through the steering, the instantaneous torque - there is romance with an electric car." Beyond just an emotional appeal, the other issue is cost.

Until recently, playing in the air of pure electric, was a rich person's game. The cheapest offering from Lucid currently is the Air Pure, which starts at a lofty $82,400. Asked about the idea of building a more affordable all-electric car, Rawlingson replied, "That is exactly why I go to work. I am not here to build an expensive car that only rich people can afford." He went on to explain that the reason Lucid began their company selling high-priced people movers was because it was "the only way I could make the business work financially."

Read more
The Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Black Edition looks like Batman’s choice for an electric pickup
The Ford F-150 Lightning is now available in matte black
F-150 Lightning Platinum Black Edition

Since Ford started selling the Ford F-150 Lightning, it has been available in four models — the Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum models. The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro is the most affordable electric pickup in the U.S., starting at $49,995, while the XLT and Lariat trims are better options if you want a longer range.

However, if you want the most luxurious option, the Platinum trim has what it takes. This Ford electric truck features the most advanced Ford technology, and you can also improve your comfort with Nirvana leather seats that have heating, cooling, and massage settings. If you want the Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum trim, you can choose ten different color options, which include Agate Black, Antimatter Blue, Carbonized Grey, Rapid Red, Stone Grey, Oxford White, Star White, Iconic Silver, Azure Gray, and Avalanche. Well, Ford has another Platinum model ready to roll out of the factory, and it’s available in matte black.

Read more
Van Life goes EV: New fully electric Mercedes Sprinter starts at $71,886, has 249 mile range
Not bad for Van Lifers with a destination
Mercedes eSprinter driving street

If the whole bricks-and-mortar thing isn’t for you and you’re ready to embrace van life, there’s a green option you should consider. The popular Mercedes Sprinter van has gone all-electric with the “eSprinter.” Despite the change of power train, the Sprinter’s core feature is carrying over. It has enough space to rival a New York City apartment in the back -- hence its long-standing status as a go-to for tradespeople, movers, and van-life enthusiasts.

What has changed is the level of practicality. The Mercedes Sprinter’s battery capacity is a generous 133 kilowatt hours (kWh). This will give you a generous range of 249 miles -- but the benefits don’t end there. The average American home uses roughly 30 kWh of power per day, and despite the Sprinter’s reputation for size, it is still a far smaller space than the average U.S. dwelling. As a result, you can probably power your tiny home on wheels for a long time on a single charge.

Read more