Range Discrepancy between A Better Route Planner and Google Maps In Car

[Shadow351]

Relatively new MME owner here, I've had it for a few weeks. A couple of times now, I've encountered a range discrepancy between ABRP and Google Maps. (Sorry for the wall of text, TLDR at the bottom)
I drove it to Chicago and back (~280 miles) starting at 100% and with a single DCFC each way. I used ABRP to estimate how much charge I needed each time and on the way out ABRP was almost spot on, arrived within 2% of the 'predicted' SOC. On the way back, I did the same thing, but this time my estimated arrival SOC in ABRP was 27% (I had my desired arrival SOC set for 30% which would allow me to drop my friend off then continue home) but I pulled into my destination with 8%. and had to charge before I continued home. I chocked this up to an unexpected headwind or something like that. Fast forward to last week, I'm getting ready to make the 170 mile drive to a client's facility, so I again used ABRP and it said that if I left with 90%, I'd arrive with 40%. I'd then charge over lunch for ~30min and have enough to make it home. I plugged the car in to charge to 90% the night before. First thing in the morning I notice when I plugged my destination into Google maps was that it predicted my arrival SOC would be 18% and not the 40% predicted by ABRP. I thought, yea, that's still fine and started my drive. However within half a mile of home my reported SOC dropped from 90% to 86% (usually it only looses 1% right after charging) and my arrival estimate dropped below 10% and I was no longer comfortable attempting the drive (I had a meeting I needed to attend and did not have time to stop and charge on the way out), so I turned around and took the Taurus.
This week I again charged the car to 90% and it again dropped to 86% within half a mile. I will charge it to 100% this weekend to see if it corrects the 'losing 4% immediately'. It was chilly both of these days but not enough to run the cabin heat.
TLDR: I'm seeing a significant discrepancy between ABRP and google maps/actual range, sometimes in the order of 20+%.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a better option for route planning (since Google maps SOC estimates cannot be used outside of the car)?

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[tbrumleve]

The range discrepancy between Google Maps and A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) happens because they use different methods, assumptions, and data sources to calculate EV range and energy use. Here’s a detailed breakdown:


1.
Underlying Purpose

• Google Maps:
  • Primarily focused on navigation and travel time.
  • Range estimates are simplified and often based on official EPA ratings or manufacturer data.
  • May assume ideal conditions — mild weather, flat terrain, and conservative driving.
• ABRP (A Better Routeplanner):
  • Designed specifically for EV route optimization.
  • Uses vehicle-specific consumption models, battery size, weather forecasts, elevation changes, and real-world driving data.
  • Prioritizes accuracy over simplicity.

2.
Environmental and Dynamic Factors

• ABRP adjusts range in real time for:
  • Temperature (cold weather reduces range)
  • Wind speed and direction
  • Rain or snow resistance
  • Elevation gain/loss
  • Driving speed (e.g., highway vs. city)
• Google Maps generally does not model these factors in detail. It might only adjust slightly based on traffic speed, not conditions affecting efficiency.

3.
Vehicle Efficiency Modeling

• ABRP:
  • Has individual models for most EVs.
  • Can even be calibrated based on your driving style and actual consumption data.
• Google Maps:
  • Uses a generic or manufacturer-rated efficiency (e.g., EPA miles per kWh).
  • No user-specific calibration.

4.
Battery State and Charging

• ABRP accounts for:
  • Current state of charge (SoC)
  • Degradation of the battery over time
  • Charging speed curves and network data (Tesla Superchargers, EA, etc.)
• Google Maps assumes a new vehicle and ideal battery conditions — it doesn’t factor in battery aging or custom charge plans.

5.
Example Scenario

If you plan a 200-mile trip:

• Google Maps might estimate: “You can make it with one charge,” assuming 250 miles of EPA range.
• ABRP might tell you: “You’ll need to stop for a 15-minute charge,” because it factors in cold weather, headwinds, and uphill driving.