Is EV Range Important? Why It Does (And Doesn't) Matter
How long an EV can go with a fully charged battery has become an obsession. Major car brands from Tesla to Mercedes compete to deliver the best range and rapid charging batteries. Meanwhile, those deciding on what car to buy are left with painstaking comparison charts.
The EV range or performance depends on many things. From how drivers use the car to environmental temperature, batteries never perform the same way. Experts warn that choosing a car just because it ranges further is not the wisest decision. The main question people need to ask themselves before putting cash down is what type of driver they are.
Related: Mercedes-Benz's New Concept EV Comes With A Tesla-Beating 620-Mile Range
EV range does not come without costs. The longer the range, the bigger the battery. The bigger the battery the more expensive the model (this can set buyers back thousands of dollars). Bigger batteries also require more lithium mining and generate more carbon emissions when built. Additionally bigger batteries add weight. A report estimated that “being hit by a vehicle that is 1000 pounds heavier generates a 40-50% increase in fatality risk”. On the other hand, bigger batteries drive much further when fully charged. Policy Advice explains that while US drivers tend to drive up to twice as much as European drivers, on average they will drive about 36 miles every day.
Charging an all-electric vehicle is relatively easy. Users can charge it at home, at SuperChargers, or other electric stations. The average range for EVs today is about a bit under 300 miles and almost all EVs offer 200 plus miles per charge. Charging time ranges from over an hour in SuperChargers to 10 hours in domestic charging stations. Although long commutes to work
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