Electric Vehicle Range: How Far Can an Electric Car Go?

Many potential electric vehicle (EV) buyers worry about how far an electric car can go on one charge—a concern that's known as "range anxiety."

But range anxiety is on the decline as EVs become more common and their efficiency increases. Learn about how EV range is determined and how drivers can maximize their range.

American EV Range Calculations

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates the driving range of electric vehicles.

The EPA's test uses a dynamometer (or “dyno”) to test vehicles. This is essentially a treadmill for EVs to simulate real-world driving conditions.

The vehicle is fully charged, then driven in simulations of city driving and highway driving until the battery is drained and the wheels stop moving.

Because the test is conducted indoors at room temperature, this test time is then multiplied by 0.7 to give a more realistic estimate of a vehicle's range.

The EPA issues individual battery estimates for city and highway driving. They also create a combined estimate based on 45% city driving and 55% highway driving.

European EV Range Calculations

In Europe, the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has been used since late 2017. WLTP replaced the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test, which was criticized for using theoretical estimates instead of real-world data.

Since Europeans spend more time commuting on city streets than on highways, the WLTP emphasizes urban and suburban driving. Instead of laboratory testing, the WLTP relies on real-world driving data from around the world.

The WLP tests EVs at four different speeds and in a variety of climates and driving conditions. Because electric vehicles are more efficient in city driving than on highways, WLTP ranges tend to be longer than the EPA's.

Real-World Range Factors

Some of the factors that affect the real-world range of an EV include:

• Aggressive Driving: The surges of power from aggressive driving put strain on the battery, as do high speeds.
• Ambient Temperature: Extreme temperatures can affect the car's range by an average of 12%. Before buying an EV, look to see if it has battery warming and/or cooling technology. Once you have one, park in a garage if you can. Alternatively, park in the shade in summer and the sun in winter.
• Cabin Temperature: Auxiliary vehicle functions, such as air conditioning and heating account, for roughly a third of an EV's total energy consumed. Try to preheat or precool your vehicle while it is still plugged in. In the winter, you may then be able to rely only on your seat heater to keep you warm.
• Driving Patterns: Unlike gas-powered vehicles, EVs are more efficient in city driving than in highway driving. Thus, city drivers may find that their range is higher than estimated.
• Road Resistance: Here, road resistance refers to the factors that impair wheel and tire performance. Keep your tires properly inflated to reduce rolling resistance and friction.
• Battery Charging: Improve range by keeping an eye on your battery. Make sure your battery is charged between 20% and 80% to avoid battery degradation and loss of range.
• Reduce Drag: Remove any unnecessary weight from the vehicle and close the windows at higher speeds.
• Economy Mode: Drivers can increase range by limiting acceleration rates and by engaging regenerative braking more assertively.