What kind of real world range can you expect?
This is the one that gets new owners in the most trouble. You see a sticker on the window or a page on the EPA website that says the car can go 150 miles. You see two stations on the interstate that are 145 miles apart, and figure you’ll barely make it. But you don’t. Why?
While window stickers and dash range estimators are useful tools, you have to understand their limitations. To make sure you’ll actually get there, you have to factor in a few more things.
While window stickers and dash range estimators are useful tools, you have to understand their limitations. To make sure you’ll actually get there, you have to factor in a few more things.
How The EPA Determines Range For Window Stickers
To understand why the EPA range number is limited, you first have to know how they arrive at that number. It’s usually done by the manufacturer themselves, but using very specific procedures. Put simply, they run the car on a test track to mimic real-world driving--in theory. The car has to go through a series of starts and stops, along with a short run at highway speeds. The energy consumed doing all that is then run through some formulas to find the car’s range.
The problem is the testing. The EPA assumes average speeds of around 20-30 MPH and a maximum speed of 56 MPH. If you drive just like the EPA testing, you’ll get the EPA number. If you drive slower or more carefully, you’ll go further (hypermiling). If you drive faster and accelerate more quickly, you won’t go as far.
In reality, you can only expect something around the EPA’s range doing city driving, and only if you aren’t doing too much time on urban freeways.
The problem is the testing. The EPA assumes average speeds of around 20-30 MPH and a maximum speed of 56 MPH. If you drive just like the EPA testing, you’ll get the EPA number. If you drive slower or more carefully, you’ll go further (hypermiling). If you drive faster and accelerate more quickly, you won’t go as far.
In reality, you can only expect something around the EPA’s range doing city driving, and only if you aren’t doing too much time on urban freeways.
The "Guess-o-meter"
Another thing that can get you into trouble is the car’s range estimator. On some cars, it says you will be able to go a certain number of miles. On others, it gives you a “high” and “low” number. Either way, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s just an estimation.
The car’s computer estimates range based on your recent driving. If you drove slowly and carefully for the last few drives, the estimate will be fairly high. If you’ve been driving fast and accelerating hard, it will give a fairly low number. You will run into a problem if you forget about that. It's good to keep it in mind as a valuable point of feedback, but don't live and die by this.
Here’s an example: If you drive in the city, slow and easy for several days, and then go on an 80 MPH road trip, the guess-o-meter will give you a bad number until it figures out that you’re driving differently. Another example: if you’re driving a lot of downhill roads, and then suddenly start climbing a steep mountain, the guess-o-meter can leave you stranded part way up the hill.
Long story short: you have to think about the road ahead, because the car’s range estimator is not going to do that for you.
The car’s computer estimates range based on your recent driving. If you drove slowly and carefully for the last few drives, the estimate will be fairly high. If you’ve been driving fast and accelerating hard, it will give a fairly low number. You will run into a problem if you forget about that. It's good to keep it in mind as a valuable point of feedback, but don't live and die by this.
Here’s an example: If you drive in the city, slow and easy for several days, and then go on an 80 MPH road trip, the guess-o-meter will give you a bad number until it figures out that you’re driving differently. Another example: if you’re driving a lot of downhill roads, and then suddenly start climbing a steep mountain, the guess-o-meter can leave you stranded part way up the hill.
Long story short: you have to think about the road ahead, because the car’s range estimator is not going to do that for you.
In the end, you will learn your car and learn about your own driving habits. Just like with anything else, this may take a little bit of time or you may get it right away. Just remember that EVs are fun and don't worry about it! Range anxiety becomes range awareness.
