How to choose the range of an EV ？

How far can an Electric Vehicle (EV) travel?

A frequently surfaced question in the realm of Electric Vehicles is: How far can my EV go? When considering the purchase of an EV, the range is usually at the top of the list for individuals who wouldn't want to be caught stranded sans charge. Even though there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to this question due to varying individual needs, let's dive in deeper to establish some rough averages for an average EV owner.

For more than a century, people have grown accustomed to the routine of refuelling their traditional combustion engines and this attitude is hard to shake off. This isn't necessarily wrong, but it establishes a mindset that seemed apt until the advent of EVs sparked the idea of change. As a result, there seems to be an abundance of gas stations, known more for their sales of food, beverages, and car maintenance services than their fuel. 

As EVs are gradually becoming more prevalent worldwide, we are presented with an opportunity to reshape our habits related to refuelling. Batteries, which are cost-intensive and heavy components of an EV, present a tradeoff: Increased range comes with a higher price, longer charging times, and added vehicle weight. Unlike traditional vehicles which get lighter the more they are driven (as the fuel burns off), an EV's weight remains constant due to its batteries.

Companies like Ford, GM, and Rivian are unveiling heavier electric trucks that necessitate larger, hence heavier, batteries. Meanwhile, people should aim for a range that corresponds to their individual requirements. Spending on an 800-kilometer range might be an overkill for someone who's workplace is close to home and doesn't often travel more than 20 Km in a day.

The situation is similar to electronics. We'd all love a laptop battery that lasts for days, but would we be willing to compromise with a heavier and bulkier machine? For some, the cost might not justify the gain.

Your living environment also plays a role. Urban dwellers with most amenities close to home will require less range than those residing in rural communities. It also matters if you have access to home charging facilities. If you can charge your vehicle at home, it makes life simpler as you can top up the car's battery every day. However, if you live in a flat or a rented property, finding a reliable, preferably fast, charging station becomes necessary, which you wouldn't want to do every day.

The first step here is to gauge your daily driving requirements. Track your regular routes on Google Maps or similar tools to understand the distances you cover regularly. Once you have a rough estimate, add a 10% buffer to account for any unforeseen situations and then compare your daily Kilometers to the battery capacity to estimate how frequently you'll need to charge.

If you uncover that you're taking 100 Km trips at least once a week, then considering longer range EVs might be apt. If your trips are usually short, then looking at smaller, less expensive options might be more reasonable. If you have a flexible budget, choosing a car with higher range or better performance is tempting, but if you're on a budget and seeking the most efficient EV, it's crucial to weigh the benefits against the costs. Charging once every 1-4 days seems reasonable if you have a home charger, and 3-5 days for public charging. There are multiple ev chargers for you to choose from feyree.

It's worth noting that 'range anxiety', the worry that your EV will run out of charge with no charging station in sight, is a real concern. Instead of dwelling on the dread of this situation, it's more productive to identify your average daily and weekly travel distances to determine what's reasonable. Evaluate the trade-off between distance and price, and you'll likely find you don't need as much range as you initially believed.

Additionally, it's recommended to charge your battery to about 80% instead of a full 100%, and to not let it run down beyond 20% to prolong the battery's lifespan. Many EVs have this function integrated within their Battery Management System (BMS).

With EVs like the Lucid Motors providing a stunning 520 EPA rated range, we might be looking at the higher end of future battery capacities. However, with DC fast chargers proliferating across the US and Europe, we may not need to load EVs with a ton of batteries. So, put your range anxiety to rest and find a range that suits your lifestyle. Your results, of course, will vary.