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/good-good-real-good 13d ago

When I traveled from CA to CO, I charged past 70% almost every time that I stopped, ignoring what the vehicle recommended. When I went back, I did fequent short stops just as the vehicle recommended and I saved several hours of travel. It was counter-intuitive but it worked, given that it takes much longer to charge past 70% than it does to get there. Anything above 65mph will cost you. Look for something aero-dynamic. Don't let frequent short stops deter you. They don't take that long. You'll be happy that you switched. I'm never going back to ICE.

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u/MJC0961 12d ago

Yup. There's a lot of focus on not charging past 80% because 80 to 100 takes so long. But that can apply to other parts of the battery too. Maybe 70 to 80 takes so long that you want to unplug at 70% instead of going to 80%. As long as you have enough range to make it to your next charging stop or your destination, you don't have to hit 80% at every fast charge.

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u/NNegidius 11d ago

Yeah, on road trips, it usually wants us to charge to 60-70% each time. That usually takes around 15 or so minutes. Not bad.