Tesla Motors has assembled a battle plan for combating range anxiety for the Tesla Model S. First buyers of the hotly anticipated electric sedan will get to pick from three different editions that all exceed the typical top range of most electric cars.

The base Model S will boast a range of 160 miles, while the upper tier editions will have a massive 230 miles and 300 miles all on a single full charge. If owners still feel the range anxiety kick in they will have the added comfort of knowing they can swap their batteries at Tesla stores.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk explained the value of the program saying, “When people take an occasional two-way long distance trip, they’ll get a replacement pack and then pick up their original one on the way back. The issue of giving up your one-year old pack for a three-year old one goes away.”

In a bid ease potential Nissan Leaf owners of “range anxiety,” Nissan has just announced that they will be offering a fee-based service that will provide unlimited roadside assistance that will allow anyone who runs out of battery power to summon up more with a phone call.

The cost of the roadside assistance is very reasonable at $18/year proving this isn’t just a cash grab on Nissan’s part but an honest attempt to give the few drivers who might find themselves stretching the Leaf’s 100 mile range, a little extra comfort.

The details of the Nissan roadside assistance program are such that drained Leaf’s, and their owners, will be towed to the nearest Nissan dealer for a recharge. If the Leaf owner has incurred any costs related to the exhausting of the battery, Nissan will reimburse them in full up to a maximum of $6,500.

Currently this program is only offered in Japan but it’s likely we’ll see something similar stateside in the near future.

General Motors has recently filed for a bizarre trademark in claiming the right to the term, “Range Anxiety.” Range anxiety, for those new to electric car discussions, is the term used to describe that some electric vehicle drivers might feel if they are low on battery power and not close to home or a charging station. It reflects the limited range of the electric car and is generally considered the primary negative aspect of owning an electric car.

Gm has applied for the rights to phrase in order to “promote public awareness of electric vehicle capabilities.” This seems unlikely however since GM has no current fully electric vehicles available, or even expected in the near future. What they do have is the Chevy Volt (image above) coming out this Fall with its range-extending engine.

So GM will be using fear-based marketing to scare potential Volt buyers away from pure electric competition like the Nissan Leaf.

We’re looking forward to the first Volt commercials where drivers are stranded on the road and eventually die of starvation thanks to range anxiety.