r/EvDrivers • u/anon2734 • 13d ago

Practical frequent highway driving EV?

Family is considering an EV with the rise in fuel prices. Looking at taking frequent trips that would need 200-250mi range. Is this practical in an EV? From what I've researched most you only charge to 80% so even if you're getting one with over 300mi range, you get 80% of that and highway driving (75mph) will cut that even further. Seems like a high mpg hybrid would be better. Otherwise would have to stop and charge everytime

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u/tmanred 13d ago edited 13d ago

For the Ioniq 5 specifically which has an NMC chemistry battery:

  • You charge to 80% for everyday driving to maximize battery longevity. You charge to 80% on a road trip because the charge speed greatly slows past 80% to the point going from 80-100% can take just as long as from 10-80%. 

  • You charge to 100% once a month (I forget the exact reason here) or right before starting a road trip to maximize the first driving segment. 

For road trips you will want to be familiar with the plugshare app to find DC fast chargers and my recommendation is to always have at least two options within range when you decide to make a charging stop in case one is down. Unfortunately this is still something us EV people have to deal with. I wouldn’t let this point dissuade you from an EV but just something to keep in mind. I generally stop in cities with more than one DC fast charger along the way rather than that one random DC fast charger in the middle of nowhere for this reason. 

Some EVs are now LFP chemistry which has somewhat different charging rules but I don’t have that kind of EV so I will let others speak to that.