What is meant by range in electric cars?
The range of electric cars Indicates how many kilometers you can travel with one battery charge.
The information provided by the manufacturers, as with the fuel consumption figures for cars with combustion engines, should be treated with caution, because this is also information under ideal conditions (WLTP).
Weather conditions, increased weight due to payload and your driving style are just 3 factors that influence the range of your electric car. As with a combustion engine, the faster you drive, the more energy is consumed and your battery must be recharged earlier.
What is the range of electric cars?
A lot has happened in terms of reach in recent years. On average, the ranges of electric car models have more than doubled in the last 5 years. Battery technologies are constantly being developed so that the ranges are likely to be even higher in the near future than before.
According to the manufacturer, some electric cars in the luxury segment should already have a range of over 600 to even 1000 km on one battery charge. Upper mid-range models, such as the VW ID.3 Pro or the Tesla Model 3, are also rated at around 550 km. But even small cars, such as the Renault Zoe or the Opel Corsa-e, can now travel 300-400 km on one battery charge, according to the manufacturer's specifications (WLTP range).
Of course, as already mentioned, you shouldn't take the manufacturer's information completely at face value. Tests have shown that real ranges account for around 84% of the WLTP range. Nevertheless, it is clear that for most car drivers, the range of electric cars in everyday life is sufficient.
Electric cars with the longest range - Models 2022
As already indicated, higher-priced electric cars are usually ahead of the pack in terms of range. The following models were among the cars with the highest range in 2022:
Mercedes EQS
In the “EQS 450” version, the Mercedes has a range of 766 kilometers on one battery charge, making it the electric car with the highest range in 2022.
The other features also make the Mercedes EQS 450 a top model: With 523 hp, the EQS goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds. The consumption is 21.8 kWh/100 km, which is slightly higher than average. With an RRP of 155,000 euros, the Mercedes EQS is not a bargain.
The charging capacity is up to 200 kw at Fast charging stations (DC) specified - this is how the Mercedes EQS should be able to charge 300 WLTP kilometers in 15 minutes. In 31 minutes, the car should reach 80% battery charge.
In the SUV version of the Mercedes EQS, drivers can travel 664 kilometers — this is due to the heavy weight of the SUV. Nevertheless, the car is also absolutely suitable for long distances.
Good to know: Charging times are usually up to one Battery level (SoC) of 80%. Why Starting at 80%, the charging capacity The batteries are significantly reduced, so that the remaining 20% should take about as much time as for the first 80%.
Tesla Model S Long Range
The Tesla Model S Long Range actually just missed the top. But even with a range of around 652 kilometers, the car is definitely suitable for travel.
When it comes to performance, the Tesla doesn't have to hide: With 670 hp, it goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. This guarantees driving pleasure.
On the Supercharger, the Tesla charges at 250 kW at its peak and takes just half an hour to reach 80% battery level.
The Tesla Model S Long Range therefore does not have to hide behind the Mercedes EQS. But the same applies here: With a list price of 137,990€, the car is affordable for just a few - and, like the Mercedes, does not come for the electric car promotion of the state in question.
With just under 18 kWh per 100 km, however, the Tesla model is much more economical than the Mercedes EQS.
BMW iX
The BMW iX is quite new to the electric car market, but it was also able to immediately secure a place in the top ranking of range winners: The xDrive50 version of the SUV is expected to achieve a full 631 km range.
In addition, it offers 523 hp of power, which requires 4.6 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h.
With a charging capacity of 195 kW, the BMW iX is slightly behind Tesla and Mercedes in terms of charging speed. For example, it takes around 10 minutes longer than Mercedes EQS and Tesla Model S to reach 80% charge capacity.
With a fuel consumption of around 21 kWh/100 km, the BMW is only slightly more economical than the Mercedes EQS. And there is no skimping on the price either: The BMW iX xDrive50 has a list price of 100,100 euros.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
In contrast to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the six-seater model focused on aerodynamics. Even though many people are arguing about the appearance, the advantage of this design in terms of consumption and the associated increase in range is undeniable: The Ioniq 6 should consume just 15.1 kWh over 100 kilometers - and thus also reach 614 kilometers per battery charge.
With 350 kWh charging capacity, the Ioniq 6 is at the top of the class in terms of charging speed - reaching 80% battery charge in just 18 minutes. It goes without saying that it only needs 15 minutes to be able to charge a range of almost 350 km.
With 325 hp, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 reaches 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in 5.1 seconds. It's not quite as lively as the models mentioned above, but you can still drive sportily with this model.
With a list price of 64,200 euros, the Ioniq 6 is also significantly more affordable than the top-end Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S or BMW iX models.
We are particularly impressed by the Ioniq 6's ability to bidirectional charging. In this way, energy from the battery can be fed back into the power grid and the car thus meets the requirements for acting as a mobile energy storage device — absolutely future-proof.
It becomes clear that e-cars in the upper or upper middle class in particular shine with long ranges. Of course, not everyone can afford a car in these price segments. There are also significantly cheaper electric cars that are absolutely suitable for everyday use despite lower ranges or charging services.
In the ADAC e-car test, the following models were particularly convincing among the (lower) mid-range electric cars:
Kia Nitro EV Inspiration:
- WLTP range: 460 km
- consumption: 15.7 kWh/100 km,
- power: 204 hp,
- List price: 43.190€
Mercedes EQA 250 Electric Type:
- WLTP range: 400 km
- consumption: 17.8 kWh/100 km,
- power: 190 hp,
- List price: 48.481€
VW ID.3 Pro Performance:
- WLTP range: 426 km
- consumption: 16.1 kWh/100 km,
- power: 204 hp,
- List price: 48.735€
In the small car sector, the following 3 models received top marks:
Kia e-Soul Spirit:
- WLTP range: 457 km
- consumption: 15.7 kWh/100 km,
- power: 204 hp,
- List price: 43.190€
Opel Corsa-e:
- WLTP range: 353 km
- consumption: 15.8 kWh/100 km,
- power 136 hp,
- List price: 33.895€
Hyundai Kona Electric Trend:
- WLTP range: 484 km
- consumption: 14.7 kWh/100 km,
- power: 204 hp,
- List price: 45.700€
Range anxiety - is it justified?
The short answer? No
Many still cite “too short ranges” as one of the main reasons against buying an electric car. Studies show that 30-40 kilometers are traveled per car per day. As we saw earlier in the article, most electric cars now have a range of at least 300 kilometers - meaning that most would last up to 10 days on one battery charge.
And even for longer vacation trips by car, electric cars are quite suitable. The charging infrastructure is now so tight that you can get a charging station finds.
One BDEW survey showed: The biggest concern of current electric car drivers with The purchase accounted for 73% of the range. After The purchase dropped Range anxiety to 1%.
As you can see, range anxiety is unfounded in reality. Most electric car drivers will be able to confirm this.
Charging time of e-cars - that's how fast you can get on
Die Charging time Your e-car is of course also an important parameter - especially if you travel a lot and/or charge on long distances. As you read in the article above, the charging time of e-cars can vary significantly in some cases.
With many models, however, it's pretty fast and you can reach 80% of your battery level within half an hour. This is usually enough to travel a longer distance again. Some cars even manage to charge 300 km in 15 minutes at DC charging stations - and after 300 km, taking another break might not be a bad idea.
Why 80%? The charging speed of all e-cars decreases drastically when the battery level is 80%. The battery management system (BMS) is responsible for this. This is done for the longevity of your electric car battery. Even if the temperature is too high, the BMS intervenes and throttles the charging speed.
What influences the charging speed of the car?
First of all, the charging speed is influenced by the charging station itself. Is it a AC charging station (normal charging), charge with a maximum of 11-22 kW. It takes a few hours to fully charge.
There may also be differences when it comes to DC charging stations. DC charging stations usually have an output of 50-240 kW. There are also HPC charging stations (high power charging), which provide between 100 and 350 kW. Depending on which charging station you choose, you will charge faster or slower.
You should also pay attention to whether it is a standalone or shared charging station. For example, if you share a charging station with another e-car, the charging speed is usually lower.
The environment also has an impact on charging speed. Battery cells are most effective at a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius. The outside temperature but also the driving style increase or decrease the temperature of the battery, so that in some cases the battery management system intervenes and throttles the charging speed. Some vehicles have a heating or cooling system to regulate the battery. But even here, these are mostly luxury vehicles.
Your e-car model and built-in battery also influence the charging speed: A Tesla Model 3 with 250 kW charging capacity naturally charges faster than an Opel Corsa-e with 50 kW. The larger the battery, the faster it can usually be charged. But the quality of the battery can also play a role: Higher priced car models usually also use stronger batteries - but at a disproportionately higher price.
Not to be neglected is also the State of Charge (SOC - state of charge). You already know that up to 80% of the battery can be charged very quickly. It usually takes a similar amount of time to charge the last 20% of your battery as the first 80%. Feel free to take a look at the Charging curves of your (desired) model. Here you can see how charging speeds can change with the SOC.
How can the range of electric cars be extended?
There are various tips for increasing the range of your electric car. The most important thing is: Recuperate consistently. By using your braking energy by recuperation You can regain 20-30% range - and that simply by driving ahead without heavy acceleration and hard braking. With many electric cars, you at least almost come to a standstill when you take your foot off the gas. That is also called”One pedal driving” - So all you need is one pedal when driving. You actually only use the brake during emergency braking. In this way, you actively regain energy and can increase your range.
Optimum tire pressure, adjusting the internal temperature (air conditioning/heating) and sailing (rolling) of the car also support economical consumption and thus optimizing your electric car range.
conclusion: Most electric cars already have more than sufficient range for everyday use - even cars in the mid-range or small car segment don't have to hide from the large luxury models. They are also suitable for long distances thanks to good infrastructure, fast charging options and suitable gadgets. With an adapted driving style, energy can even be recovered, thus increasing the range and reducing consumption. This not only saves nerves, but also money.