At the beginning of the 20th century, about one-third of all cars on the road were electric. At that time, EVs were quieter, smoother, and more environmentally-friendly than their internal combustion counterparts. That’s still true today. So why did the electric vehicle fall out of favor? The problem that kept electric vehicles from mainstream adoption 100 years ago is still a factor today. Compared to gas-powered cars, EVs have a shorter driving range and take longer to refuel (or recharge the battery, as the case may be).
How far can electric cars go on one charge? Do EVs have enough range for a typical daily commute? What about long road trips? To answer those questions, consider: when the Tesla Roadster was introduced in 2008, it was able to travel an 244 miles per battery charge. But it was a luxury, two-seater sports car. These days, a wide range of practical and affordable battery-powered vehicles provide about the same range. Nissan entered the mainstream auto market with its Nissan Leaf in late 2010. It only offered 84 miles of range at that time. Nonetheless, it quickly became the world's best-selling electric car. A decade later, the Leaf now offers up to 226 miles on a battery charge.) Over the past decade, the electric vehicle market has grown to more than 50 different cars. The best electric cars all get more than 200 miles on a charge.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that the average American drives 40 miles per day. The 200-plus miles per battery charge offered by many of today’s electric cars provides all the driving range that commuters need. Actually, they provide five times the required distance.
The Future is Now & More Long-Range EVs Coming Soon
Here are a few comparisons of popular electric vehicles that offer more than 200 miles per charge:
- Audi Q8 e-tron – 204 miles
- Nissan Leaf Plus – 226 miles
- Jaguar I-Pace – 234 miles
- Chevrolet Bolt – 238 miles
- Kia Niro EV – 239 miles
- Hyundai Kona EV – 258 miles
- Tesla Model X – 305 miles
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range – 322 miles
- Tesla Model S – 391 miles