Individual differences in BEV drivers’ range stress during first encounter of a critical range situation

• We examined drivers' range stress (RS) during first encounter of critical range.
• Route familiarity and trust in the range estimation system were related to lower RS.
• System competence and personality variables were also related to RS.
• This research has implications for designing strategies aimed at reducing RS.
• This research advances understanding of user experience in low-resource systems.

It is commonly held that range anxiety, in the form of experienced range stress, constitutes a usage barrier, particularly during the early period of battery electric vehicle (BEV) usage. To better understand factors that play a role in range stress during this critical period of adaptation to limited-range mobility, we examined individual differences in experienced range stress in the context of a critical range situation. In a field experiment, 74 participants drove a BEV on a 94-km round trip, which was tailored to lead to a critical range situation (i.e., small available range safety buffer). Higher route familiarity, trust in the range estimation system, system knowledge, subjective range competence, and internal control beliefs in dealing with technology were clearly related to lower experienced range stress; emotional stability (i.e., low neuroticism) was partly related to lower range stress. These results can inform strategies aimed at reducing range stress during early BEV usage, as well as contribute to a better understanding of factors that drive user experience in low-resource systems, which is a key topic in the field of green ergonomics.