EV Range 101
Electric Vehicle (EV) range, or how long an EV can run when it’s fully charged, is one of the most common topics discussed when people are making the switch to electric. However, most drivers travel less than 40 miles per day. The fully electric EVs of today have ranges between 250-400+ miles — gone are the early days of EVs when you would only get 50 miles on a single charge — which means your average driving needs should still be completely covered and you’ll have less range anxiety as you head for your destination!
What determines the range of an EV?
The range of EVs available today will primarily depend on the battery size of the car. EV battery capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which tells you the amount of energy used by an EV running at one kilowatt for one hour. Bottom line: the higher the battery capacity, the longer the range of the vehicle.
The good news is that we make life easy with our New EV Finder, where you can search all new EVs on the market, filter by range, and see the electric range prominently displayed under each vehicle’s picture.
Other factors that can determine the true range of an EV are environmental and human factors such as hot or cold weather and individual driving style, along with vehicle specifications including vehicle size, design and battery heating efficiency.
How long will an EV battery last?
Modern EV batteries are built to outlast the natural life of your vehicle. Like other types of batteries, EV batteries do degrade over time. As an EV battery ages, it won’t hold as much charge as it once did, and you may notice a reduction in range.
A new EV with a range of 250 miles is expected to have a 150-to-200-mile range after 12 years of service. According to Recurrent, EV batteries generally degrade at a rate of 1-2% per year.
If you’re in the market for a used EV, there are many tools and resources available to help determine the battery capacity of a used EV.
The good news is that most drivers travel less than 40 miles per day, so your average driving needs should still be completely covered.
How can I maintain my battery life?
By taking a few extra steps to reduce unnecessary wear and tear, you can extend your battery’s lifespan even further and make your charging experience even smoother.
Start recharging your EV when it hits 30% instead of 0%. Letting your EV battery fall completely to 0% before recharging will eventually reduce your EV’s overall battery life. Instead, try to start recharging your battery once it hits the 30% charged mark.
Aim for charging only to 80% instead of 100% full. With the lithium-ion batteries in EVs, charging up to about 80% full helps to maintain your battery’s max capacity more than charging up to 100%. If you charge a bit under 100%, it allows plenty of battery space for the energy produced by your EV’s regenerative braking, which converts the kinetic energy from braking into usable energy that helps power your vehicle.
What can help extend my EV’s range?
Along with the main factor influencing range – battery capacity — there are several things you can do to extend your range as you drive.
If your vehicle is equipped with regenerative braking — use it! Regenerative braking is a mechanism that essentially captures the energy created by your electric motor as you brake or slow down, turns it into electric energy that is then channeled back into the battery, providing a longer range and maximizing your vehicle’s energy efficiency.
Adapt your driving habits to increase efficiency. Driving at or below the speed limit can increase energy efficiency by reducing the aerodynamic drag on your vehicle, providing better range. Keeping your speeds consistent over time, rather than constantly accelerating and decelerating, can also help. Other factors to consider include tire condition and using heating and air conditioning, which can decrease range incrementally.
Still have questions about EV charging? Find out everything you need to know to charge an EV with confidence.