EV range calculator
Start from your car's EPA estimate, then set the speed, the weather and the heater. See the miles you can really count on.
| At 70 mph | 20°F | 32°F | 50°F | 75°F | 95°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat/A/C on | 170 | 196 | 234 | 288 | 239 |
| Off | 253 | 261 | 272 | 288 | 276 |
Explainer: where your range goes
Drag speed and temperature. Air resistance grows with the square of speed, so 80 mph pushes about twice as hard against the air as 55 mph. Cold weather adds cabin heating and a sluggish battery on top.
- Rolling, drivetrain, electronics 34%
- Pushing air (drag) 40%
- Cold: heating & battery 26%
Temperature effect from fueleconomy.gov (20°F: range about 41% lower with the heater, 12% without) and AAA's 2019 test (95°F: 17% lower with A/C, 4% without). Speed effect is a drag model assuming ~50% of energy goes to air resistance at 65 mph, and treating the EPA highway estimate as roughly 65 mph driving.
Where the numbers come from
EPA estimates. Every range on this site comes from the EPA dataset on fueleconomy.gov: combined, city and highway. We start from highway range, since that is what road trips use.
Cold. fueleconomy.gov: at 20°F, EV range can drop about 41% with the cabin heater on, and about 12% without it, compared with 75°F. About two-thirds of the extra energy goes to heating the cabin, which is why heated seats and steering wheels, and preheating while plugged in, save so much range. Cars with heat pumps usually do better than these averages.
Heat. AAA's 2019 EV range tests at 95°F found about 17% less range with the A/C on and about 4% less without it.
Speed. This part is a physics model, not a measured EPA figure. Air drag rises with the square of speed; we assume it takes about half the energy at 65 mph, with the rest (tyres, drivetrain, electronics) roughly flat, and we treat the EPA highway estimate as about 65 mph driving (EPA adjusts labels with a high-speed test cycle that reaches 80 mph). That puts 80 mph roughly 45% hungrier per mile than 55 mph. Between the temperature points we interpolate in a straight line.
Put the result to work in the EV trip planner, which uses the same model to place charging stops, or compare every car in the EV range list.
Questions drivers ask
How much range does an EV lose in cold weather?
fueleconomy.gov reports that at 20°F, EV fuel economy can drop about 39% in mixed driving and range can drop by about 41% when the cabin heater is used; roughly two-thirds of the extra energy goes to heating the cabin. Without the heater, range is about 12% lower than at 75°F.
Does hot weather reduce EV range?
Yes, less than cold. In AAA’s 2019 tests at 95°F, range fell about 17% with the A/C running and about 4% without it. Pre-cooling the car while it is plugged in helps.
How much does highway speed affect range?
A lot, because air resistance rises with the square of speed. The EPA highway test averages about 48 mph and peaks at 60 mph. Our model treats the EPA highway estimate as roughly 65 mph driving and assumes air drag is about half of energy use at that speed, which puts 75 mph range roughly 25% below 55 mph range. Real cars vary with shape and size.
Is EPA range accurate?
EPA range is an estimate from standardised lab cycles, so it is a fair way to compare cars but not a promise for your drive. Speed, temperature, wind, hills, tyres and load all change it.
What is the difference between EPA combined and highway range?
Combined weights city and highway cycles 55/45. EVs are more efficient in town thanks to regenerative braking and low speeds, so the highway figure is lower. fueleconomy.gov publishes both.