Fully electric vehicles can travel between 100 and 400 miles on a single charge, depending on the model. The average range of electric cars increases as new battery technology is developed. On average, drivers can expect an electric vehicle to travel 250 miles on a single charge. However, there are several factors that can affect the range of an electric car, such as climate, battery size, and more.
The Department of Energy predicts that current batteries for electric vehicles should last well beyond the warranty period, with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years in moderate climates and 8 to 12 years in more extreme conditions. It's essential to consider whether you'll have access to enough charging stations when buying an electric car. An electric car with a lithium-ion battery pack works similar to a car with an internal combustion engine and a full tank of gas, since an electric vehicle with the right combination of battery capacity, empty weight and aerodynamic efficiency can travel hundreds of miles between charges. The main factor that determines the range of an electric car is the size of the battery. Unlike gasoline cars, roadside assistance cannot carry a small volume of fuel, so the vehicle must be physically transported to a charging station.
An active thermal management system is key to keeping an electric car's lithium-ion battery pack at peak performance. Many electric cars include settings to adjust the maximum charge level, and many car manufacturers recommend that drivers charge the package to 85 or 90 percent of its capacity for typical daily use. In the humble beginnings of electric vehicles, the best-selling electric car, the Nissan LEAF, had a maximum range of about 160 km (100 miles). According to current estimates, most electric vehicle batteries will last between 15 and 20 000 years or between 100 000 and 200 000 miles before they need to be replaced; the battery is more likely to last longer than the car. Driving an electric vehicle is very different from driving a car that runs on gasoline.
General Motors and Volkswagen plan to build dozens of affordable electric vehicles in the coming years.
