Range Anxiety
The worry that you will run out of battery power before reaching your destination or a charger. An often unfounded state of mind as the average car is driven for just 20 miles a day and it’s not uncommon for an electric car to be able to travel up to 300 miles.
Range
The distance a car will travel without needing to stop for fuel or a charge. Can also be used to describe the line-up of cars offered by a company, or where a cowboy lives.
Regen
Regenerative braking recycles the kinetic energy of the car moving forwards back to the batteries when you slow down and brake. It feels similar to engine braking in a combustion car. Some cars have paddles behind the wheel that you can use to change the strength of braking, others can do it automatically, slowing you down for corners or when traffic slows in front. All electric cars will use a blend of regenerative and actual braking when you hit the brake pedal (although many early EVs didn't have the feature). Regenerative braking is usually shortened to just 'regen'.
Rapid Charging
A charging speed of 43 kW and above which will typically charge an EV in under an hour. Tesla Superchargers are rapids but charge at 120 kW.
REX
Range Extender. Or what you get when you crash cars.
Residual Charge
The percentage of the original capacity remaining on the battery of a car. See ‘Battery Capacity’.
Residual Value
The percentage of a car’s price which is retained when you come to sell it used.
RFL
Road Fund Licence. Previously known as the ‘tax disc’. A fee payable to the government to use the roads in the UK. Not to be confused with rugby.
RFID Card
Cards (and keyfobs) used by many older charging points to allow access to EV charging ports. As contactless payment comes in these will no longer be needed.
