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Are you worried about electric car range? First generation electric vehicles couldn't go very far on a single charge of the battery, giving rise to 'range anxiety'.
Most modern EVs have a range of 130-300 miles. Some as high as 400+ miles. Worry no more.
Once you get to know how the technology works, you can overcome some of the electric car range limitations. In our guide and video explainer, we navigate this confusing topic and answer all the frequently asked questions:
All types of car – petrol, diesel or electric – have a 'range' on a full tank / battery. Here's a simple way of putting it:
Range = how far you can travel without having to ‘refuel’ your vehicle
When thinking about electric vehicle range, people ask questions like:
These are all valid questions. We are all still at the beginning of the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electrified transport. There's a lot to take in.
In practice, range only needs to be ‘managed’ if you drive the most environmentally friendly type of EV a Battery Electric Vehicle or BEV.
There are two other types of electric car as well: Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) and Conventional / Self-Charging Hybrids (HEVs). HEVs and PHEVs have both a battery and a combustion engine. This means their range is similar to traditional cars. When the battery runs out, you can run as normal on the petrol or diesel engine.
A BEV, on the other hand, does not have an engine to fall back on if your battery runs out of charge.
Here are the official ranges of some popular BEVs. The exact range depends on the battery size / trim you choose:
Some obvious conclusions jump out of this data:
If you take a pure electric vehicle (BEV) on a long trip, you do need to plan ahead. Here’s the rule of thumb:
If the distance you need to travel that day is greater than your car’s real-world range, then you will need to stop and charge.
For example, imagine a trip from Southampton to Newcastle upon Tyne. That’s a distance of some 340 miles.
If you’ve leased the rear-wheel-drive version of the Tesla Model 3, you have an official WLTP range of 305 miles. Below we discuss how a car’s official range varies in different situations, but let’s assume for the time being your Model 3’s actual range is about 280 miles on average. That’s not enough range to get you all the way to Newcastle in one go.
So, you could stop on the way at Tesla’s motorway supercharger station at the Moto Ferrybridge services near Leeds after 230 miles. After about 20-30 minutes of charging, your battery capacity should be at roughly 80%, and you can complete your trip to Newcastle.
Still got range anxiety? Make sure you choose the long range version where various battery sizes are available for a particular model. Also check out our list of the Top 10 Longest Range Electric Cars for 2022.
The EU tests all cars sold in Europe using the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
One of the criteria they measure is the range of electric vehicles. On a car manufacturer’s website, the range advertised will normally be the official, WLTP range.
However, in the real world, WLTP range is often not achieved. As we will see in the next section, range varies depending on a multitude of factors.
Want to discuss leasing an electric car?
Why not phone us on 0118 3048 688 or email at enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk
The range of any type of car – whether petrol, diesel or electric – varies in relation to how the car is driven, the terrain, your speed, and so on.
Here we look at those factors that are particularly relevant for pure electric cars (BEVs):
Outside temperature
If you drive an EV from January to December, you will notice a sizeable difference in range during the year.
When it’s cold in winter, your range will be noticeably less than the official WLTP range. By contrast, on a warm summer’s day, you may well be able to drive further on a single charge than the WLTP range would suggest.
What’s going on? An EV battery is made of lithium ‘ion’. When it’s cold, the little ions can’t move around as fast, and your car’s range reduces accordingly.
When it’s warm, the ions can move around more freely and electric car range increases.
Cabin temperature
If you have the heating on in the car, this will also use up some of your battery’s charge and your range will decrease.
Obviously you don’t want to freeze to death in winter to maintain decent range! The trick is to pre-heat the cabin in the morning while the car is still plugged in. In most modern EVs you can turn the heating on remotely using an app.
In summer, air-conditioning will have the same effect. Cooling the car’s passenger space will use up battery power and reduce range accordingly.
Renault estimates extreme heating or cooling of your EV can reduce range by as much as 30%.
Speed
If you drive an electric car around town, at low speeds, the battery seems to last for ages. Driving slowly puts very little stress on the battery and you are rewarded with extra range.
On the other hand, if you drive on a motorway at a steady 70 mph, the distance your EV can travel on a single charge decreases. The battery has to work harder to move the vehicle 1 mile on a motorway at 70 mph than it does 1 mile in a city at 30 mph.
If you’re running low on charge, and worried you might not reach your destination, slow down to eke out more range.
Terrain
If you go up a hill in an EV, you will use up your car’s battery much more quickly than you would on the flat. You're working against the force of gravity.
However, going down a hill in an electric vehicle brings surprising benefits. As you descend and lift your foot off the accelerator, the car slows down, the electric motor goes into reverse and actually charges the battery.
This is known as ‘regenerative braking’. Extra miles into your battery when you go downhill!
Acceleration
As with traditional petrol and diesel cars, electric vehicle range decreases if you accelerate hard on a regular basis.
But if you drive gently, accelerating smoothly, you will get more miles out of your EV.
Nearly all electric cars now come with various ‘driving modes’, e.g. Eco, Normal, and Sport. If you want maximum range, select Eco mode. For top performance, it’s Sport. For a balance between the two, go for Normal mode.
Battery condition
As electric car batteries get older, they can’t be charged up as much as they could on Day 1. For example, a brand new electric vehicle with an 80 kWh battery can be charged today at 100%. But in 5 years’ time, you might only be able to charge it up to say 95%. It would then in effect act like a 76 kWh battery (95% of 80 kWh).
This gradual loss of charge capacity means a corresponding reduction in range. Fortunately, electric car batteries seem to be holding up very well and this effect is fairly minimal, especially in the latest models with the most advanced battery technology.
We trust you've found this guide to electric car range useful. Most modern electric cars enjoy excellent range on a single charge.
For your daily driving, just get in, drive, come home, plug into your charging point, and have a full tank of electricity to start the next day. Unless you are going on a long trip, you shouldn't need to charge during the day at all.
If you can't charge at home, check out our guide dedicated to charging in public.
If you frequently do long journeys, consider leasing an EV with a long range version like a Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S, BMW i7, Mercedes EQE, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Polestar 3, Tesla Model 3, Lotus Eletre, BMW iX, BMW i4, Cupra Born or Skoda Enyaq iV.
To spend a bit less, but still benefit from solid range, try the Fiat 500e, Audi Q4 e-tron, MG ZS EV, Vauxhall Mokka-e, Peugeot e-2008 or e-208, Citroen e-C4, or the MG MG5.
If you usually just do short trips around town – and don't require tons of range – look at one of the stylish, compact, city electric cars like the Honda e, Ora Funky Cat, or Mini Electric.
The distance an electric car can go on a full charge of its battery depends on a variety of factors, including the battery size, the efficiency of the battery and electric motor, the speed you’re driving, outside temperature, cabin temperature, the terrain, and your driving style.
Nearly all electric cars nowadays can go at least 130 miles on a full charge. The majority have a range of 130-300 miles and some can go over 400 miles, in ideal conditions, before needing a charge.
The longest range electric cars are currently the Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S, BMW i7, Mercedes EQE, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Polestar 3, Tesla Model 3, Lotus Eletre, BMW iX, BMW i4, Tesla Model X, Cupra Born, Skoda Enyaq iV, Polestar 2, Tesla Model Y, and Kia EV6. The long range versions of these cars all have an official WLTP range over 300 miles.
WLTP stands for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure. It’s a testing process set up by the EU that provides an official battery range for all electric vehicles. You will see the WLTP range figure on manufacturers’ website.
You can think of WLTP range as ‘maximum’ range. In the real-world, range will often be less, especially if it’s cold outside or you are driving at motorway speeds.
‘Miles per kWh’ is the metric for electric vehicles that tells you how efficient they are. It’s the equivalent of miles per gallon (MPG) for traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
4 miles per kWh is a high efficiency rating for an EV, and 2 miles per kWh would be a low rating. Read our “What’s the equivalent of MPG for an EV” Guide for a full description.
As manufacturers gain more experience in making electric cars, they improve the battery and electric motor efficiency. The best electric cars at the moment in terms of efficiency include the Fiat 500e, Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq, Mini Electric, Peugeot e-208, Tesla Model Y, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Mercedes EQA, and the Citroen e-C4.
Unsure how to choose an EV? Need more info on charging electric vehicles? Want to browse top EV charging points? Read our handy guides:
You know what to look out for in a petrol/diesel car, but what about electric? What are the differences? Plug-in, hybrid, or full electric? Which is best? Which offers the most savings and protects the environment? Read our guide...
Read our comprehensive Charging Guide covering the best approach for home and work charging, plus what to do when out and about. Get the low-down on Type 1 / Type 2 / CCS / CHAdeMO plugs, which cables you need, etc.
If you're leasing an electric vehicle and have off-street parking, you're definitely going to want a dedicated charging point installed. Choose from our range of popular chargers at great prices and, if you're eligible, secure the £350 grant.
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