EV range anxiety has become such an issue that the RAC is being forced to use a special kit, it has been revealed.
Fears over a lack of charging infrastructure and the inefficiency of electric cars over long distances have forced the breakdown specialists to come up with a unique solution.
James Gibson, Head of Technical at the RAC, told Auto Express: "We wanted a solution for our EV customers that didn’t just involve picking up the vehicle and moving it.
"A 50kWh battery pack weighs about 700kg, which is a lot to carry around in the back of a van just in case you need it, so I challenged the team to find an alternative."
Instead of lugging around a weighty spare battery, the club's tech wizards developed a new system called EV Boost.
The device makes use of the repair van's engine, passing the power generated into an alternator rather than to the wheels.
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This lets the van effectively act as a generator/mobile charging point.
The process is all completed using just a control box in the back of the van and a cable hooked up to the EV.
At the roadside, it can add about 10 miles of extra charge in 30 minutes, giving most motors more than enough range to get to a nearby garage or charging point.
Not only that, but it gets around one of the major issues with electric cars – that they are very difficult to tow.
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The system has already been added to more than 200 patrol vans, while the RAC is working on boosting its power to help speed up charging.
And they are also developing a Rapid Deployable Towing system to allow them to pull EVs and 4x4s along without having to call in a flatbed.
It works by placing the car on a small lightweight platform with wheels and a tow bar fitted.
This lets the van pull the car along on the platform, with the motor secured by strong straps at each wheel.
The news comes after an EV expert explained why Brits are hesitant to make the switch from fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, electric car production in the UK was given a massive boost as a major manufacturer announced huge investment plans.
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