EV Range

The range of an EV, as determined by the EPA and found on the "sticker" of a new car, is represented as an estimate of "typical driving". The EPA range is the distance the car can travel on a single charge beginning with 100% SOC. The EPA provides three range values (all just estimates!) - one for city driving, one for highway driving, and an overall combination. It's the combination that most often is quoted and therefore remembered by consumers. The other two are very important  to understand. You will also notice that the city range is higher than the highway range for an EV - just the opposite of ICE vehicles. The actual range you will obtain is highly dependent on how you drive and the surrounding conditions (more on these topics below).

I hear a lot from consumers that EV range is the most important factor in the buying decision. I suppose that is reflected in their fear of "range anxiety" - they don't want to find themselves running out of energy with no charge stations in sight. Tesla has certainly capitalized on this concern and focused on building high range EVs and expanding their proprietary infrastructure to try and ease consumers' fear about range anxiety. 

However, there are many other factors that need to be considered when looking to purchase an EV.  Things like available daily charging facilities, type of driving expected, around town versus long-distance driving, charging speed, and available charging facilities on your normal long-distance routes.  All of this can affect your need for more range and what you can afford.

Again, the EPA estimated range values represent a typical operating scenario combining city and highway driving.  How close you get to these estimate ranges is highly dependent on your driving style (smooth or aggressive), speed, your mix of city and highway driving, level of  regenerative braking use, ambient and battery temperature, and whether or not you are going to use climate control systems to stay warm or cool. 

We have found that in the warmer months we can easily exceed the EPA ratings in city driving. This is primarily due to driving slower speeds and being aware of maximizing the use of regenerative braking (1-pedal driving). Of course, as the temperatures drop in winter, our range also drops (well below the EPA estimate).

It gets a lot trickier on long-distance trips. You have to contend with greater resistance at higher speeds, various weather conditions such as winds that require more energy to maintain a certain speed, and terrain changes such as mountain passes that use more energy to traverse. Click here for more on this topic.

Range is definitely important to consider when looking to buy an EV, but its not the only factor. Lots of things affect the range you will ultimately obtain - you first need to consider how you plan to use your EV. Range is less an issue if the EV will be used primarily for commuting to and from work and running in-town errands. In this case you will most likely charge at home, work, or around town and you will probably be close to a charging station at all times.

Range is much more of a factor if you plan to also use the EV for long-distance trips.

Click here to explore more about what EV is right for you.