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

[Rotmeat]

I-90 and I-94 from Western WA to Western ND which is my planned route are well covered by compatible Tesla chargers (according to the Tesla app for non-Tesla EV's):

EA and others are also available and well spaced on this route. Most of these suggested stops in ABRP had other DCFC networks available close by:

I was pleasantly surprised on the amount of available DCFC. This is definitely where the longer range (300+ miles) comes in handy with 80mph speed, cool-cold weather, wind and elevation changes. It also shows that lower range EV's can possibly work if they are able to use CCS and NACS networks, you would have to stop more often though.

Even SLC to Badlands NP to Minneapolis seems possible, at least with an MME CR1 during summer (my made-up trip in ABRP just to see...)

I apologize, I realize I had some bad reading comprehension, and thought you were going to *South* Dakota, not *North*.

I'm less familiar with I-90 and 94, so you might be fine. Most of my issues have been trying to take I-80.

The CCS chargers in Casper and Gillette have been broken for a while, but routing apps still try to send you there, and the NACS in town are all slow chargers.

If you're able to avoid traveling through Wyoming you might not have issues.

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[Blue highway]

LOL, my pockets aren't quite that deep. Not to mention, Lucid, Rivian kind of scare me in the sense I'm not sure they are gonna be around for the long term. I'd rather watch them and go with something I see as a bit more established.

I'm probably wrong on that from tho.....

yes, but life is too short to drive boring cars... Lucid and Rivian make great cars and at some point in your life you will wish you had one to at least tell good life stories... If being safe is your most important goal, that leaves you Tesla in the EV world or something like a Toyota Camry...

 

[Blue highway]

I base it on the last three years, plus the fact that consumer demand for EVs is drying up.

drying up?

 

[RickMachE]

I do amazon flex with this vehicle. I hardly ever charge out and about. I do not have a plan that gets cheaper rates, since I hardly ever travel with it. I did go on a trip to new orleans, so I did join a plan. I plugged in and never could get the 'plan' to work. After ten or so minutes, my spouse was aggravated. I turned on the ford auto charge thing, and just paid the actual higher fee. It was 0.69. That is what it cost. I paid over 40$ to go about 180 miles (cruising at 85).

When I first bought the car and didn't have a charger, I was charging from about ~5 to 10% to 100% mostly everyday for maybe 35 days or so and it was usually taking about 50 minutes at the electrify america that is close to me on I10 in Houston. I had not charged at a station from empty to full for about 17 months until that road trip to New Orleans. It took us about 50 minutes. There were four chargers and there were four vehicles using the chargers. I had to wait about 25 minutes for a charger to become available. So add that time in as well. Maybe you are ok with stopping for even 35 minutes, but my spouse already is anti EV and the wait and the charging is a big downer that I have nothing to overcome.

It works GREAT for amazon flexing and ubering. I am getting usually close to 300 miles of driving with it on any given day. Usually pulling in with less than 5% of battery left most days I am side gigging.

Here's the problem. YOU. Not you personally, but you as in your use of the vehicle. It sounds like you're using it for Amazon Flex and Ubering, and then charging at a public charger to 100%. That's NOT what the charging network is setup for. Uber / Lyft drivers are the worst thing to happen to EVs because those organizations flood some charging locations with local vehicles, and the drivers, like you, think it's ok to charge to 100%.

You took that mindset on a trip, and charged to 100%, which is why it took you 50 minutes. And, that charger was likely full due to Uber / Lyft / Flex drivers, also charging to 100%. Of course driving at 85mph killed your range also.

As to charging on a trip, if you're going to use Electrify America, join the morning of the trip. Then, you MUST use their app, not Plug and Charge, to charge. Activate charger, then plug in. You can discontinue the plan right after signing up, and it will stop in 30 days.

So if you had done differently, you would have left your house with 100%, and stopped to charge for 25 or 30 minutes. You could have planned the trip with ABRP, checked locations with PlugShare, and seen if a location was always busy and picked another one.

I just put in the Houston to New Orleans route, and it has ONE stop to charge at Tesla in Lafayette, LA, arriving with 20% (ER). I then changed it to arrive with 50%, and then made it a round trip. Tesla SuperChargers the whole way, 2 on the way there, and two on the way back. Easy, peasy.

I encourage you to use ABRP and PlugShare to plan your trips in the future. Come here and ask about it, and some of us are happy to help you plan your trip.

https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=277b4b40-5780-473b-af2e-e217c2c6bc6d

 

[Teslaeata]

C300 miles oughta do it

 

[AhardFSU]

Here's the problem. YOU. Not you personally, but you as in your use of the vehicle. It sounds like you're using it for Amazon Flex and Ubering, and then charging at a public charger to 100%. That's NOT what the charging network is setup for. Uber / Lyft drivers are the worst thing to happen to EVs because those organizations flood some charging locations with local vehicles, and the drivers, like you, think it's ok to charge to 100%.

You took that mindset on a trip, and charged to 100%, which is why it took you 50 minutes. And, that charger was likely full due to Uber / Lyft / Flex drivers, also charging to 100%. Of course driving at 85mph killed your range also.

As to charging on a trip, if you're going to use Electrify America, join the morning of the trip. Then, you MUST use their app, not Plug and Charge, to charge. Activate charger, then plug in. You can discontinue the plan right after signing up, and it will stop in 30 days.

So if you had done differently, you would have left your house with 100%, and stopped to charge for 25 or 30 minutes. You could have planned the trip with ABRP, checked locations with PlugShare, and seen if a location was always busy and picked another one.

I just put in the Houston to New Orleans route, and it has ONE stop to charge at Tesla in Lafayette, LA, arriving with 20% (ER). I then changed it to arrive with 50%, and then made it a round trip. Tesla SuperChargers the whole way, 2 on the way there, and two on the way back. Easy, peasy.

I encourage you to use ABRP and PlugShare to plan your trips in the future. Come here and ask about it, and some of us are happy to help you plan your trip.

https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=277b4b40-5780-473b-af2e-e217c2c6bc6d

100% agree. The rideshare drivers clogging up the DC fast chargers in cities is what kills me on road trips. The DC fast charging network wasn't designed so that rideshare drivers could hog them while people on a road trip have to wait. To all rideshare drivers, charge your EV at home or find a local level 2 station and use that. You're being selfish and inconsiderate to those of us on road trips that would like to DC fast charge for 30 mins.

And if your spouse (not talking about you Rick) doesn't like waiting, don't take the EV on the road trip. I don't get some people who complain about things that could have been prevented with some forethought and planning. Sure you don't have to plan with a ICE. Ok.....and! Like what are we talking about? If you want an ICE vehicle or you're mad that you have to stop and charge for 40 mins in an EV........uh hello do some research before you buy, get an ICE and stop coming into EV forums to piss all over the folks looking for advice.

 

[SonicBlue]

Sure you don't have to plan with a ICE. Ok.....and! Like what are we talking about? If you want an ICE vehicle or you're mad that you have to stop and charge for 40 mins in an EV........uh hello do some research before you buy, get an ICE and stop coming into EV forums to piss all over the folks looking for advice.

Or… let’s give people this honest advice. Just because this is an EV forum doesn’t mean we can’t give honest, realistic advice about the benefits and difficulties of EV ownership. We’re not here to sell EVs.

 

[Jynxy in Texas]

I guess after having my vehicle.... I didn't know the way one uses an ev is a problem. I didn't even know that uber drivers were a problem at charging stations. Who would be dumb enough to drive an ev and charge out and about, which is more expensive than driving my lifted jeep wranglr????? But maybe "they" really are the problem. At charging stations.

Also... I had not used a public charger in a long time and had no idea the rate had more than doubled in under 18 months. It will be the last time we take the car on a trip we probably have to charge out and about with.

I also still do not have my tesla adapter. I signed up for that in may. Ford originally said it would ship in June, now says mine will ship in Sept. Every month it gets pushed back another month.

The mache has built in charging function. I knew where to stop.

The Electrify America just wouldn't work. I did at one time have the subscription and know how to use it. It JUST WOULDNT work with app.

Having an ev isn't all bells and whistles. But I still think 80% of people would benefit from owning a 160 to 180 mile range vehicle.... as long as they can charge it at home. Poor people would and can benefit the MOST from owning an ev. As long as they can charge it at home.

 

[load97]

I guess after having my vehicle.... I didn't know the way one uses an ev is a problem. I didn't even know that uber drivers were a problem at charging stations. Who would be dumb enough to drive an ev and charge out and about, which is more expensive than driving my lifted jeep wranglr????? But maybe "they" really are the problem. At charging stations.

Also... I had not used a public charger in a long time and had no idea the rate had more than doubled in under 18 months. It will be the last time we take the car on a trip we probably have to charge out and about with.

I also still do not have my tesla adapter. I signed up for that in may. Ford originally said it would ship in June, now says mine will ship in Sept. Every month it gets pushed back another month.

The mache has built in charging function. I knew where to stop.

The Electrify America just wouldn't work. I did at one time have the subscription and know how to use it. It JUST WOULDNT work with app.

Having an ev isn't all bells and whistles. But I still think 80% of people would benefit from owning a 160 to 180 mile range vehicle.... as long as they can charge it at home. Poor people would and can benefit the MOST from owning an ev. As long as they can charge it at home.

Poor people can’t afford pretty much any EV. Even used would be a struggle.

 

[Jynxy in Texas]

Poor people can’t afford pretty much any EV. Even used would be a struggle.

You can get a 4 year old bolt with 20k mile for $15000. Isn't so far off from the small sedans that are 4 years old.

 

[voxel]

It depends on your situation and location.

I was happy with the 112 mile range of my MINI electric. Purely a city commuter and short trip vehicle. DC charged once in the year I owned it.

I was UNHAPPY with the 220 mile range of the Ioniq 5 Limited AWD and 260 mile of my Rivian R1S. The Ioniq 5 had some smallish road trips and one was to FIRM/Starke for a track day and that was an painful adventure. Having to detour 30-40mins to a DC charger plus add charging time then having to charge after the track day (on yet another detour) made me want a gas track car ASAP.

Before Tesla SCs opened for the Rivians, I hated taking that on any road trip - slow 400V charging, massive battery pack, crap 2.1 mi/kWh efficiency, extra detours to CCS chargers. Rivians need 350 miles of range and 800V charging.

The Mach-E Extended Range is perfect for FL. Just enough range to avoid DC charging on weekend trips. I had the Standard Range back in the fall in 2021 and that was NOT enough range. The Ocala/Gainesville area was a charging desert (and still is) and basically a no-go for me when I attended events there.

Folks mentioning NEVI in this thread... lololol. Good luck getting FL distributing a single dime of NEVI funds. State is waiting for an administration change.

 

[voxel]

You can get a 4 year old bolt with 20k mile for $15000. Isn't so far off from the small sedans that are 4 years old.

You can get a 1 year old Bolt EV (not EUV) for $17K. I'm looking at a bunch from Hertz for my niece. They aren't eligible for an used tax credit until 2025 due to the model year rule.

 

[Madtroniks]

300+ miles of highway or winter range with Tesla Supercharger access.

 

[profdraper]

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?

FWIW, I’ve owner three EVs over the last six years of so, now with an MME Select (the one with the LFP battery). Seriously, the answer to this has everything to do with 1) how far you really need to drive on a regular basis and 2) if you have a home charger or not.

In my experience with 95% city driving, the car is always charged at home and ready to go,. The LFP on the Select can be charged to 100% whenever I like (unlike the longer range NMC battery models that require only 80-90% charging on a regular basis). So 440ks (280m) is a pretty popular WLTP range /price point for so many EVs.

Sure, we’ll get faster and faster charging speeds, but

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?

440ks (280m) is pretty common for many EVs. If your needs are mainly urban & you have a home charger, works perfectly well.

I’ve owned three EVs over the last several years, now an MME Select with LFP battery & which can be charged to 100% regularly. Go to bed, is charged in the morning. Simple.

If you need to do long road trips regularly, that’s a different matter of course. Our use has been 95% urban and on trips we’ve had no problems with public DC chargers and are usually well prepared in advance for travel fun with apps like PlugShare and ABRP (a better route planner). This one also of course depends on ‘major routes’ vs ‘off the beaten track.

 

[bbulkow]

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?

I like the 300 mile number.

I don't road trip. If it is much more than 3 hours each way, i fly. I do drive 4 hrs each way, that requires a couple of stops. Easy to find a public charge and drop in for 40 minutes, coordinate with lunch.

I have home charging. Access to supercharger. My er rwd gets a real world 330 with modest driving.more like 250 if i flog it.

I can do any amount of driving in my area that i would do in a day. Sometimes i go have to go to a town 100 miles away, go to another town, come home. Those days i just press the 'charge to 100' button.

As the battery degrades, i still have good range. At 18 months i am at 97 pct SOH, so at ten years i will be at 80 pct., so my 300++ will be 240++, which is still a viable car. Im not sure how viable it would be below 200 miles. Hopefully by then battery prices have gone down an i can replace at a reasonable cost?

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