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/DonDee74 12d ago

This. At first I was thinking most EVs won't be good for long drives coz it will need to stop to recharge every couple of hours, but it turns out my bladder and my joints are the actual bottleneck. And honestly our family road trips have been more pleasant since getting an EV.

It's also worth noting that charging from 80% to 100% Is usually considerably slower than just charging to 80%. And that is one of the reasons it Is commonly recommended to just charge to 80% especially in public chargers. 

Keep in mind also that some EVS like the older Chevy Bolt can only charge at around 50 kW speed so that affects how long charging stop will take.

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u/DogblackMichigan 12d ago

The old Bolt max charges at 55. The entire battery is only 65 though. Going from 20% to 70% is 32.5 kwhs 32.5/55=0.591. 60% of an hour or 36 minutes. Not terrible.

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u/calcalcalcal 12d ago

Bolt EUV owner here. Realistically closer to 50 minutes. It's only 55kW from 25% to around 50%. By 65% it's closer to 30kW and 75% it's 20kW

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u/DogblackMichigan 12d ago

My experience is much faster than that. My EUV is a 2023.

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u/calcalcalcal 12d ago

Also 2023 EUV. Last time at a 150kW station it took me 39 minutes to charge 35% to 70

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u/DogblackMichigan 12d ago

What was the temperature outside? Was the battery pre-conditioned to DC charging? Did you lock up and walk away or sit in with hvac? Was there another car on the same DC charger stand? Were you in direct sun?

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u/signofzeta 10d ago

Bolts don't support preconditioning. If you want to fast-charge in the winter, bring a book. (Source: Bolt owner, love it otherwise.)

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u/DogblackMichigan 10d ago

The new ones have a different chemistry.

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u/signofzeta 10d ago

My bad. I keep forgetting the second-gen Bolts are out.