How Far Can an Electric Car Go on One Charge?

Are you used to driving a petrol-powered car? Then the idea of stopping at a gas station only once every week or so to keep your car running smoothly is a familiar one. No wonder you might be sceptical when you hear about electric vehicles with a battery that runs down much faster than the fuel tank.

But here’s a thing. The Nissan Leaf that came to the market in 2011 boasted having up to 160 kilometres of range. If you travel from Salzburg to Vienna, you will certainly need to charge at least once on the way. For daily commuting with 20-30 km distance, though, it’s a perfect choice. However, let’s not forget this was one of the first EV models. 

Today, you can get a Tesla Model S with 600 km range or a Mercedes-AMG EQS with 746 km range. From Salzburg to Vienna? From Munich to Frankfurt? One full charge is enough!

As you can imagine, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Much depends on the model of car you use, your driving style, and even the weather conditions. We know that’s not an answer you’ve been looking for. What we can do, however, is help you find the electric car that matches the charge-to-drive ratio of your dreams. That’s what this blog post is about.

Want a car that can handle long travels? The following vehicles can drive the longest on a single charge:

Are you looking for a car primarily for short-distance trips like commuting or going to the mall? If so, consider these options:

The numbers we have listed are provided directly by the car manufacturers. You may find that they differ from one website to another. This is because some independent testers such as ADAC, as well as simply curious internet users, carry out their own tests under different conditions. 

Calculate your charging time with the go-e calculator. 

Let us show you how it works. 

1. Choose your car's brand from the options available. For example, if you have a Tesla, select Tesla from the list.

2. Select the specific model of your car from the drop-down list. For instance, if you own a Tesla Model 3, pick Model 3 from the list.

3. Pick the go-e Charger that you use from the options provided. Suppose you use the go-e Charger Gemini flex 22 kW, select it from the list.

4. Indicate whether you're using an adapter or not. If so, select the adapter you're using from the list.

Right after you’re done, the calculator will show you the approximate charging for your car when charging from 0 to 100 %. Try it out!

If you normally use public charging stations, your frequency of charging depends on the factors listed below.

• Driving habits: One of the factors is your driving habits. You're a lead-footed speedster? You'll probably empty your battery a lot faster than a more cautious driver. In general, most electric cars need to be charged every few days or so. But it really all depends on how much you drive. 
• Terrain: Let’s say, you're driving up hills or mountains. You'll use more energy and your range will suffer. Travelling on bumpy roads is likely to decrease your range as well.
• Car size: Your car size matters as well. Larger vehicles, while not always heavier, present a greater challenge to manoeuvre due to their increased mass. This leads to higher energy consumption during acceleration and turning at higher speeds. 
• Weather: An electric car's range can be decreased on cold days. This is mostly caused by the energy needed to maintain a suitable temperature for the driver and batteries. Fortunately, there are steps that may be taken to lessen this impact, such as pre-heating the cabin and utilising heated seats instead of turning on the heater.
• Battery size: Another thing to consider is your battery size. If you have a Volvo EX90 with a 107 kWh battery, one charge can be enough for a week of daily commuting. In contrast, VW e-Up with a 32,3 kW needs to be charged more frequently. 
• Amount of charge: Lastly, the amount of charge your car has received the last time matters. Did you fully charge your vehicle overnight or just top it up to 60% at a public charger in the shopping mall? This will impact the frequency of your charging.

All in all, it's a good idea to plan ahead and make sure you have access to charging stations when you need them. Services like ChargeFinder, for instance, can always show you where the closest charging station is. Or simply get yourself a mobile charging station such as our go-e Charger Gemini flex, put it in the trunk of your car and be able to charge immediately wherever you are. 

The Distance to Empty (DTE) is an indication of how far you can drive with the current battery level. You usually see it on the main display of the car. The distance it shows is fairly accurate, but don’t rely too much on it and consider recharging as soon as the number drops significantly. 

Whether you have 5 years of driving experience or have just got your driving licence, you probably realise that driving with 3% battery power left is not the best idea. Obviously, it depends on where you're driving. It's much safer to drive in the city centre than in the suburbs, where you'll be less likely to find an outlet for your own charger, let alone a public charging station.

The most common, lithium-ion batteries have some excellent benefits like high energy density and speedy charging. But, like everything else, they eventually wear out. You can't just keep charging and discharging them forever. After a while, the battery's power storage capacity starts to drop because the materials inside the battery start to go bad. You have probably experienced that already as it’s the same with phones, tablets, laptops, etc.

Here’re a few tips how keep your EV’s battery in a good shape for as long as possible:

• Avoid using DC fast chargers too often and don’t charge with DC chargers up to 100%.
• Don’t allow your battery to be completely depleted (0%).
• Avoid exposing your battery to extreme temperatures, as they can be detrimental to its health.

Which electric vehicle has the longest range? The answer is that it hasn't been built yet. Car companies are releasing new models with longer and longer ranges every year, and it doesn't look like they're going to stop anytime soon. They say that by 2025, the average battery range of electric vehicles is expected to increase to 784 kilometers. Meanwhile, Tesla has already surprised with its Roadster with a 1000 km range.