Electric cars come with many benefits. They introduce the latest technology, quick acceleration, and low running costs in a package that makes great financial sense. Despite this, some consumers hesitate about making the shift due to concerns about sufficient range ("range anxiety").
How Much Range Do You Need?
The thought of running out of range and being stranded with an EV can be daunting. In reality, electric cars can travel much farther than most people need, and running out of range is very unlikely.
The average daily commute for an American is 41 miles round trip. Comparing this with the range of the most affordable EV on the market, the Chevrolet Bolt EV, makes the point. Since the introduction of first Bolt models in late 2016, the Bolt has come with 238 to 259 miles of range.
The average American could thus complete their daily commute for around six days in a row without a need to recharge, even with the affordable Chevy Bolt EV. Combined with today's public charging networks and easy-to-implement at-home charging, this means that typical EV range is more than enough for most consumers – even on those longer weekend road trips.
If range is still a cause for concern, it's worth revisiting some of the basics about how EV batteries function, what affects the range, and what you can do to maximize range. Before looking at these details, however, let's revisit how EV range is measured and what the average range is today.
How Is Range Measured and What Is EPA Range?
In the United States, the general source for electric car range estimates is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Similar to fuel economy tests for gasoline and diesel cars, the EPA puts each electric car through a variety of driving tests before arriving at a real-world range estimate.
For most EVs, the EPA range test consists of high-speed and low-speed driving in a laboratory setting. To conduct the tests, the agency drives each electric car model from a full charge to zero at simulated highway and city conditions, recording the total distance traveled.
After accounting for 45% highway driving and 55% city driving, the EPA adjusts the result, typically by a fraction of 7/10, to account for any climate control use, harsh acceleration, and other energy-intensive tasks. All this makes the EPA range a robust estimate of the available range for each electric car model.
Average EV Range Today
Based on EPA figures, most new EVs come with 200 to 300 miles of range. For example, the Tesla Model 3, the most popular electric sedan on the market, has an EPA range of 272 miles in RWD form (“Standard Range”) or 358 miles in AWD form (“Long Range”). A less expensive entry, the Chevy Bolt EUV, maintains a solid EPA range of 259 miles.
While the EPA range is a solid estimate of the model-specific average range, maximum range on a particular day can be impacted by several factors. For example, driving style, tire pressure, weather conditions, and age of the vehicle can all affect an electric car’s range.
Driving Style Impacts EV Range
Driving style is the most significant factor affecting an electric car's range. Accelerating aggressively, driving fast, or braking harshly can all cause a drop in efficiency. Generally, drivers who are mindful of their driving habits and stick to driving at lower speeds may see real-world distances that are at or above EPA range estimates.
Tire Pressure and Condition Impact EV Range
Electric cars are much more energy efficient than traditional gasoline or diesel cars. On average, modern electric cars translate 80-90% of the energy they consume to power at their wheels, this compares to 20-25% for internal combustion engines (ICEs). At the same time, EVs provide instant torque and tend to be heavier than comparable combustion engine cars. All this means that wind and rolling resistance play a relatively more important role for EVs compared to ICEs.
Making sure you are using the right kind of tires, correctly inflated and in good condition, can noticeably improve your electric car’s range. Based on recent studies, using suboptimal tires can decrease an electric car’s range by around 5%. Our own experience at Ever indicates that the impact could be even larger – between 5-10% – if your tire pressure is significantly below the recommended PSI.
To maximize EV range and minimize tire wear and tear, you should ensure that you are using tires recommended for your EV and have sufficient tire pressure – typically a few PSIs higher than what you would have in a comparable combustion engine car’s tires.
EV Range In Cold Weather
Weather plays a significant role in how far an EV can go on a single charge. In cold ambient conditions, the amount of energy a battery can hold will decline. Additionally, the increased use of heating and A/C will consume more energy. This means that during winter conditions EV range will be somewhat reduced. Every electric car will respond differently, but these losses tend to vary from 3% to 33%, depending on the car.
While this may sound like a significant range decrease, it’s good to remember that the average full range of EVs hovers around 250 miles, leaving 200+ miles of range for most EVs, even in freezing temperatures. A great example of how well EVs satisfy range-related requirements even in cold weather environments is the growing popularity of EVs in colder climate regions. For example, Norway recently reported that over 80% of all new cars sold in the Nordic country were all-electric, despite its Alaska- and Canada-like weather conditions.
Range Over Time
While electric car manufacturers have made significant advancements in both battery technology and battery management systems to extend battery life, electric cars’ batteries will experience some degradation and range loss over time. Luckily, this is a slow process and the effects on range are generally minimal.
Based on historical data, electric car batteries tend to lose around 2% of their maximum capacity per year. For example, an EV with a 300-mile range will likely degrade to around 270 miles after five years. Thus, for the average consumer and electric car, battery degradation during a typical 3-to-5-year ownership period doesn’t make a significant difference.
How to Maximize EV Range?
Based on what we have learned above, here are some best practices you can follow to make sure your day-to-day EV range is maximized and any battery degradation is minimized:
1. Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking
2. Maximize the use of regenerative braking
3. Stick to reasonable driving speeds, preferably below 60 mph
4. Use recommended tires with sufficient tire pressure and condition
5. Avoid unnecessary wind resistance from roof racks or other accessories
6. Download software updates for improved battery management
7. Avoid unnecessarily high A/C or heater usage while driving
8. Preheat your car before driving in cold weather
In Short: For Most, Today’s EVs Provide More Than Enough Range
While electric car range is an important consideration, most electric cars available today provide more than sufficient range for the average consumer. In fact, owning an EV will likely prove to be a far more enjoyable experience than having to drive and fuel a combustion engine car.
Moreover, appropriate driving habits and increased alertness to tires, software, A/C, and charging-related best practices can help maximize range and battery life.
