What do you feel is the best range for an EV?

[TRP]

I'm doing a bit of research for a future EV purchase. Looking at Luxury/Performance sedans mostly but am also considering SUVs from a couple manufacturers.

For me range is a focal point, maybe unnecessarily but still...

The routes I travel on have charging stations placed infrequently. Anyway, I'm seeing range for performance sedans topping at 240-250 +/- and SUVs closer to 300.

If DCFC options were better this wouldn't be a consideration for me.

So....1. What do you feel the optimal range is?
2. What do you think the DCFC world will look like in 2yrs time?

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[VaporTrails]

After lots of roadtrips in my GTPE MME, I think 330 is a minimum target for a high-quality EV. This is based off my experience in my region of the US. I think 250 is the minimum for a cost-conscious EV. I can modulate my gas pedal and reach destinations, but a little more range would give me better parity with what I had in the ICE world.

in teo years, a lot of NEVI stations will start coming online. My charging options have tripled in the last two years and I think they will double again in the next two.

 

[hybrid2bev]

Try your common routes using the A Better Route Planner app or website. Change ABRP settings to different vehicles and see what happens.

1. Best recommendations for range anything >240.

2. Better - especially now that a lot Tesla sites can be used.

 

[TRP]

Try your common routes using the A Better Route Planner app or website. Change ABRP settings to different vehicles and see what happens.

1. Best recommendations for range anything >240.

2. Better - especially now that a lot Tesla sites can be used.

Now that Tesla is an option for us I feel a lot better about the current routes I travel. If all manufacturers go that was then I have zero issues. I just don't remember who is onboard and who is holding out.

 

[TRP]

So here's a thing I have come across.

Tesla MS Plaid- 1000+hp and 359mi range (yes I understand that they typically fall short) so guesstimate 300.
BMW 5 series sedan EV 593hp and a range of 240ish (likely to be less in the real world)

Obviously the biggest difference is in the battery pack size.

 

[B177y]

...
So....1. What do you feel the optimal range is?
2. What do you think the DCFC world will look like in 2yrs time?

1. As much as is needed for your use scenario, or as much as you can afford.

2. Where I am, it is growing more and more every year.

Explanations:
I also worried about range when looking and researching my MME, so I got the Cal Rt 1 model with the longest range. The reality is that I could have got a Premium, GT, or even a Select (standard battery) and been fine with their lower ranges. Home charging really is a game changer.

I have also taken long road trips from Western WA to Southern UT, West WA to East WA, and to Central OR. I am currently planning a possible trip to North Dakota across WA, ID, MT, into Western ND. Of those, only W. WA has a dense charging network. Still, now that Ford can use the Tesla network along with all of the other networks, the DCFC exists to make this ND trip possible as long as it's mainly on Interstates.

If you plan to road trip frequently, go for the most range you can get, it will allow for easier route planning and getting off of the Interstates more frequently.

If you're looking for a commuter, range is not so much of an issue. A lower range charged at home every day or even at your worksite if available, will be fine and could save you lots of money on the purchase.

My experience, the 300+ mile range will allow for fairly easy road trip route planning and allow non interstate-only long distance travels.

For comparison sake, enter your potential purchases into a route planner like ABRP to see what your expected routes look like charging wise. You may realize you don't need to focus on the range ratings as much. I did this AFTER I got my Rt 1 and realized that I could have gone with a lower range Mach-e with minimal issues. The standard battery MME'S made traveling outside W. WA's charging network more difficult, but 250-300+ range pretty much gets you charger to charger easily.

 

[RickMachE]

I'm doing a bit of research for a future EV purchase. Looking at Luxury/Performance sedans mostly but am also considering SUVs from a couple manufacturers.

For me range is a focal point, maybe unnecessarily but still...

The routes I travel on have charging stations placed infrequently. Anyway, I'm seeing range for performance sedans topping at 240-250 +/- and SUVs closer to 300.

If DCFC options were better this wouldn't be a consideration for me.

So....1. What do you feel the optimal range is?
2. What do you think the DCFC world will look like in 2yrs time?

Totally subjective for the most part. As @hybrid2bev suggested, look at your routes in ABRP. It also matters what the actual range, not the stated range via some ridiculous algorithm. And, the size of your bladder. And, WHERE you travel, and the climate (i.e. cold weather kills range). For example, if you drive across the interstate in Wyoming, there are NO Tesla SuperChargers. There are 3 Electrify America locations. That's where you charge, regardless of your range, because you have to.

Now that Tesla is an option for us I feel a lot better about the current routes I travel. If all manufacturers go that was then I have zero issues. I just don't remember who is onboard and who is holding out.

All aren't on board yet, and the more that get on board, the worse it is for everyone else.

So here's a thing I have come across.

Tesla MS Plaid- 1000+hp and 359mi range (yes I understand that they typically fall short) so guesstimate 300.
BMW 5 series sedan EV 593hp and a range of 240ish (likely to be less in the real world)

Obviously the biggest difference is in the battery pack size.

Battery pack size is ONE difference. The Hummer has a huge battery pack and horrible efficiency.

 

[Phil-Springs]

The range focus is only really relevant if you plan to road trip a lot or your residence / work doesn’t have a level 2 charger. For the road trip , 3 hour leg x 70 mph and charging from 10 to 80 % implies at least 300 miles is where it becomes comfortable.

 

[Dear_OP]

I feel range is a bit of a red herring. Instead one should consider efficiencies. ie. Wh/mile (km). Afterall traditionally we view ICE vehicles not by range but my mpg.
The reason I am changing my focus from range to efficiency is efficient EV vehicle designs and avoid slapping big heavy batteries. Both are lazy and archaic approaches. With the latter, it is relying limited resources. Large batteries = weight and increased charging times.
Range is a result of lighter and aerodynamic vehicles. And uses less precious metals.

Farley was correct that America needs to start producing smaller efficient EVs.

 

[dtbaker61]

So....1. What do you feel the optimal range is?

20% further than your max daily drive to account for loss of range in the winter, but minimize battery cost and weight.

In my case, albuquerque-santa fe round trip is my longest day-trip at about 160 miles. santa fe-taos, and santa fe-las vegas are a little less. That's why I bought the SR (200mile range) rather than EX (closer to 300) battery in my Select. I didn't want to pay the difference and carry all the extra weight every day.

2. What do you think the DCFC world will look like in 2yrs time?

There will be lots more.... and more L1/L2 popping up in parking lots where EV could sit and charge all day while at work/school.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Obviously the biggest difference is in the battery pack size.

Tesla typically have smaller battery packs than you’d think. For example, the 2024 Model Y has a battery pack size of either 60 kWh or 72 kWh depending upon the version you purchase (standard vs long range). The 2024 Mach-e comes with either a 72 kWh or 91 kWh battery.

Where Tesla shines is in their coefficient of drag. The model y has a cd of 0.23. The Mach-e is 0.28. Getting to the 0.23 cd affects the design. It’s one reason why the Tesla’s look the way they do.

The two cars you cited above, the MS and the BMW i5 work out as follows:

i5: Battery size of 84.3 kWh. Cd of 0.22 to 0.25 depending upon wheel size.

MS Plaid: 100 kWh battery and a coefficient of drag of 0.208

Teslas are rather efficient in their electric use. They’re aerodynamic and that leads to greater range and drives the styling.

Keep in mind that Tesla has also been legally gaming the EPA range estimates for years. In addition their car range meters have traditionally started at the full EPA range and just work down from there while driving. There’s no attempt to provide a dynamic range estimate in the car.

Good luck on your search.

 

[TRP]

Tesla typically have smaller battery packs than you’d think. For example, the 2024 Model Y has a battery pack size of either 60 kWh or 72 kWh depending upon the version you purchase (standard vs long range). The 2024 Mach-e comes with either a 72 kWh or 91 kWh battery.

Where Tesla shines is in their coefficient of drag. The model y has a cd of 0.23. The Mach-e is 0.28. Getting to the 0.23 cd affects the design. It’s one reason why the Tesla’s look the way they do.

The two cars you cited above, the MS and the BMW i5 work out as follows:

i5: Battery size of 84.3 kWh. Cd of 0.22 to 0.25 depending upon wheel size.

MS Plaid: 100 kWh battery and a coefficient of drag of 0.208

Teslas are rather efficient in their electric use. They’re aerodynamic and that leads to greater range and drives the styling.

Keep in mind that Tesla has also been legally gaming the EPA range estimates for years. In addition their car range meters have traditionally started at the full EPA range and just work down from there while driving. There’s no attempt to provide a dynamic range estimate in the car.

Good luck on your search.

Thank you for doing the math for me. I admittedly lack in that department.

I am also aware of Tesla and their range estimates.

 

[TRP]

I haven't entered the different specs into ABRP, I probably should.

As it stands my most frequently traveled route is Knoxville to Baltimore up the I-81 corridor. When I first got the Mach E I could easily make that trip in 2 stops, now at 90k miles it takes 3 even tho I haven't really lost that much range 96.5% SOH. So it makes what used to be 10-11 hrs now 12hrs.

300 mile range coupled with faster charging would get me back to a more comfortable trip. So I guess I should add 800v platform vs 400v into my thinking as well.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

When I first got the Mach E I could easily make that trip in 2 stops, now at 90k miles it takes 3 even tho I haven't really lost that much range 96.5% SOH.

If you haven’t done do you might want to consider the unofficial battery calibration process @Mach-Lee set forth in this forum:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/hv-battery-calibration-procedure.23815/

 

[Sikkun]

4 days out of the year 300 miles.

The other 361, less than 100 miles.

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