EV Range Calculator
Estimates realistic range rather than the official figure. Enter the battery size and your consumption, then pick the conditions — cold motorway driving can cost close to 40% of the headline range.
Share sends a link that reopens these numbers. Copy details pastes the full breakdown as a list.
The formula
range = battery × usable % × distance per kWh × conditions factor
The conditions factor is empirical, not exact. Cold and speed both hurt an EV more than a petrol car, because there is no waste engine heat to warm the cabin and drag dominates at motorway speed.
What to watch out for
Why real range falls short of the sticker:
- Speed. Drag rises with the square of speed. A steady 70 mph can use 30% more energy per mile than 50 mph.
- Cold. Two effects at once — the battery is less willing when cold, and cabin heating draws real power because there is no waste engine heat to use. A heat pump halves the penalty; resistive heating does not.
- The usable window. Few people run to 0%. Planning on 10–90% removes a fifth of the nominal range before you start.
- Official figures are optimistic by design. WLTP is closer than the old NEDC, but still a gentle cycle compared with real motorway use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far can an electric car really go?
Typically 10–25% under the official figure in mixed use, and 30–40% under it on a cold motorway run. A 60 kWh car rated at 250 miles is realistically a 175–200 mile car on a winter journey.
Why does cold weather reduce EV range so much?
Cold cells deliver less energy, and cabin heat has to come from the battery rather than from a hot engine. Together they commonly cost 20–30%. Preconditioning while plugged in recovers some of it.
What is a good consumption figure?
Around 15–18 kWh/100 km (3.5–4 mi/kWh) for an efficient small EV, 20–25 kWh/100 km (2.5–3 mi/kWh) for a large SUV. Consumption matters more than battery size for real-world range.
Should I plan on using the full battery?
No. Most drivers plan 10–90% for daily use, leaving a buffer at the bottom and avoiding the slow charging above 80%. Set the available-charge field to match how you actually drive.