• EV owners experience range anxiety despite advancements in mileage numbers and charging speeds.
• Maintaining battery health requires optimal charging levels and managing temperature and speed.
• This article is part of "Getting Ready for Electric," a series of guides and practical advice for buying your next EV.

Electric vehicles have come a long way since their debut about 15 years ago. One of the first EVs, the Nissan Leaf, had just over 120 miles of range. Meanwhile, many of today's EVs boast 400-plus miles on a single charge.

That hasn't stopped EV owners from feeling what's known as "range anxiety." If your gas tank says you have only 50 miles left, there's comfort in knowing you can quickly find a gas station and fuel up in five minutes. With electric, though, "drivers tend to watch the miles-remaining estimate way more than they did in the gas car," John Higham, a board member of the Electric Vehicle Association, said.

So for many consumers who have purchased an electric vehicle, or are ready to take the plunge, range is a big factor. How do you keep your car's range going strong?

You don't need to become an engineer or battery expert to keep your EV in top shape. Following a few simple tips can help you make the most of your car.

As Higham said: "Arming yourself with a few facts will help alleviate some anxiety."

Find the charging sweet spot

Best practices for charging your car depend on which vehicle you have and the composition of its battery.

"When you buy or lease an EV, the dealer or manufacturer" lets you know "the best charging level for the vehicle," said Ingrid Malmgren, a senior policy director at Plug In America, an organization focused on EV education, advocacy, and research.

For many vehicles, keeping the battery charged between 20% and 80% can minimize stress on the battery cells, according to Aatish Patel, the president and cofounder of XCharge North America, a provider of EV charging solutions.

Think of it like charging your phone, said Mark Barrott, a partner in the automotive and mobility practice at the consulting firm Plante Moran. Leaving your phone plugged in for a long time after it's reached 100% can overcharge the battery and could reduce its capacity over time.

On the flip side, other vehicles and batteries function better when charged to 100%, Malmgren said.

She and Higham advised reading the owner's manual and following the manufacturer's recommendations for charging your car.

EV owners don't necessarily need to shy away from fast chargers. In extreme circumstances, like if the battery is under 5% or over 90%, fast charging could stress the battery, Malmgren said. But her organization has seen many EV drivers who used fast chargers for years and didn't see abnormal battery loss.

Car and battery makers have also refined the technology so that batteries can accept charge much faster. At this point, the time to charge your EV is similar to how long it takes to fill your gas tank, Barrott said. That helps with range anxiety, since a low battery doesn't mean you'll be waiting hours before you can get on the road again.

Regulate your car's temperature and speeds

Modern EVs are designed to maintain their own temperatures, but you can help further that. If possible, park in the shade when it's hot or inside a garage if it's cold.

Range can decrease in colder temperatures. It's a best practice not to leave your car with a nearly zero charge in extremely cold weather. Owning an EV in a cold climate isn't a dealbreaker, though.

"Hey, over 95% of car sales in Norway are electric, where it actually gets cold," Higham said. "EVs do work in the cold. You just need to know how they are affected."

You can also regulate your car's speeds, accelerating and braking smoothly when it's safe to do so, which helps prolong the vehicle's range. Aggressive acceleration can wear on the battery over time, Patel said.

Carmakers are betting big on EVs

The technology continues to advance as the auto industry invests in electric vehicles. Carmakers, battery manufacturers, and charging providers continue to look for ways to lengthen range, "working together in concert to design solutions that make sense," Barrott said.

If you're already an EV owner and suspect your car's range may be declining, contact your dealer or manufacturer. Technicians can check out your car, and there may be software updates to make the vehicle more efficient. Battery replacements, which are extremely rare, may be covered under warranty.

But for the most part, unless you spot a big red flag, experts say you don't need to worry about your car's battery health or have anxiety about your EV's range. Stick to the manufacturer's recommendations for charging, and do your best to avoid extreme temperatures or speeds.

"Focusing on proper habits ensures you get the most out of your EV for years to come," Patel said.

• There are many factors to consider when purchasing an electric vehicle.
• It can help to know your daily mileage and charging preferences and see if you qualify for tax credits.
• This article is part of "Getting Ready for Electric," a series of guides and practical advice for buying your next EV.

If you're considering an electric vehicle for your next car, there are various factors — like your anticipated daily mileage and charging needs — to consider.

Before buying, you may also want to think about EVs that are eligible for tax credits, which can lower the cost of your overall purchase.

Whether you go with a fully electric or hybrid model, there are plenty of new, used, and coming versions of this more sustainable car type to choose from.

In "Getting Ready for Electric," a series of shopping guides, Business Insider has been exploring the ins and outs of EV purchasing. Read on for the best tips for shopping for your next EV.

When choosing your EV, it's important to take stock of your lifestyle and surroundings.

Battery ranges can vary depending on your driving habits and the climate of where you live.

While driving a few dozen miles daily in a moderate climate like Florida could open a buyer to a wide variety of EV options, someone who drives hundreds of miles daily and lives in a locale prone to colder temperatures may have fewer options overall, Scott Case, a cofounder and the CEO of Recurrent, a startup that tracks EV-battery health, previously told BI.

Newer models tend to accommodate long-haul driving needs better than older models, but they usually have higher price tags.

For more budget-friendly options, consider EVs that come with government-provided tax credits.

The federal government offers tax incentives on certain EVs, while some states have rebate programs that can lower the cost of your purchase.

Each of these discount methods has its own requirements and varies for new versus used EVs.

For example, to get a federal tax credit of up to $7,500, your new EV must have:

• A battery capacity of 7 kilowatt-hours or more.
• A gross vehicle weight rating under 14,000 pounds.
• Final assembly in North America.
• At least 50% of the minerals used to make it extracted, processed, or recycled in the US, or in countries with which the US has a free-trade agreement.
• A suggested retail price of no more than $80,000 for vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks, and no more than $55,000 for all other vehicles.

If you meet some but not all of the requirements, you may qualify for a smaller tax credit.

When it comes to used EVs, you may be eligible for a tax credit — 30% of the vehicle price, up to $4,000 — if you have:

• An EV that is at least 2 model years old, under $25,000, and sold by a licensed dealership.
• An income that doesn't exceed $150,000 if you're a joint filer or surviving spouse, $112,500 if you're a head of household, or $75,000 if you're a single filer.
• Not used this credit in the past three years.

There's also a leasing loophole for the EV-curious.

For the EV-curious who don't want to pay for a yearslong commitment, the leasing approach could be the way to go.

Unlike bought EVs, leased ones fall into a different tax-incentive category because they don't undergo the same complex parts-sourcing process and don't have the same income caps.

Because of this distinction, dealerships get a $7,500 federal tax credit for each of their EVs. That's where the EV-leasing loophole comes in: Many dealerships are opting to pass these credits onto their lessees.

That extra cash, bumper-to-bumper coverage, and the ability to return the car at the lease's end are benefits worth considering when shopping.

When it comes to powering up your EV, public fast chargers are becoming more readily available.

The Department of Energy reported that there are more than 61,000 EV charging stations nationwide, double the number in 2020.

The majority of Americans — 95%, a Pew Research Center study found — live in counties with at least one of these stations.

If you're close to one of these stations, an EV could be a convenient and inexpensive alternative to a gas-powered car.

Or you can invest in an efficient at-home charging setup.

Though more of an investment, at-home EV chargers can make your green-car purchase that much more worthwhile, Jenni Newman, the editor in chief of Cars.com and an EV owner, previously told BI.

Not all public charging ports are compatible with all EV car models, and drivers have reported coming across broken chargers. An at-home charging setup could eliminate those issues.

EV owners can charge their cars within hours or overnight — a slower method that can prolong battery life — and end up with 250 to 300 miles of driving range without leaving their driveways.

These setups range in cost — from $250 to $7,000 — depending on your outlet location, the voltage your electric panel can support, and the speed at which you want to charge your vehicle.

Like with buying or leasing an EV, there are charger tax credits available from the federal government.

No matter your needs, you can expect to see a wider variety of EV options in the coming years.

As automakers adjust their EV-manufacturing strategies, they're investing in more hybrid EVs and models at lower price points.

Because of these strategic changes in the car industry, you can expect a bigger menu of EV options for both fully electric and hybrid cars.