How much EV range do you actually need?
Most people buy for their longest journey of the year and pay for it every single day.
Range anxiety sells large batteries. Large batteries cost money, add weight and wear tyres. Most drivers would be better served buying for the journey they actually make.
Start with the right question
Not "what is the longest drive I might ever do?" but "what is my longest regular journey?"
The occasional exception is what rapid charging is for. Sizing the battery for a once-a-year trip means paying for and carrying that capacity every other day of the year.
The numbers
Average UK car use is around 20 miles a day; the great majority of journeys are under 30. If you can charge at home, you start every morning full, and daily range is a non-issue at almost any battery size.
Real range, not quoted range
WLTP and EPA figures are measured in favourable conditions. Expect:
- 15–25% less in normal mixed driving
- More again in winter, especially without a heat pump — our measurements found −12% to −43%
- Worse at sustained motorway speed, where drag dominates
A car quoted at 250 miles is a roughly 190-mile car in practice, and perhaps 150 on a cold motorway run.
A sensible way to size it
- Longest regular journey — the one you do monthly, not annually
- Add 30% for winter and motorway speed
- Add a 15% arrival buffer so you are not planning to arrive empty
A 120-mile regular run therefore wants roughly 180 miles of real range — around a 210-mile quoted figure.
Where charging speed beats capacity
If you regularly exceed your range, how fast the car charges matters more than how much it holds. A smaller battery that adds 100 miles in fifteen minutes can be a better long-distance car than a big one that tapers early.
Look at the 10–80% time, not the peak kW. Why peak is the wrong number.
When you do want the big battery
- No home charging, so you want to minimise public stops
- Regular long motorway runs
- Towing, which can cut range by a third or more
- Very cold climate
Otherwise, spend the difference on a heat pump and better tyres. See the best electric cars under £30,000 for what the money buys.
In pictures
Common questions
Is a bigger battery always better?
No. It costs more, weighs more, wears tyres faster and often charges no quicker in the useful window. If you never use the range you are carrying it for nothing.
About the author
ElectraMile EditorialEditorial desk
The ElectraMile editorial team covers charging, running costs and EV ownership for readers in the UK and US.
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Figures shown for United Kingdom in GBP. Switch market in the header to see local pricing and terminology.
