Electric Vehicles (EVs): How Far Will They Go?
Electric vehicles (EVs) are made to be environmentally friendly, unlike cars running on gasoline. This has resulted in global automakers and leaders embracing EVs as part of carbon emission reduction strategies.
General Motors are projected to sell only light trucks and EVs by 2035, completely transforming the automaking of battery-powered designs. Another automaker with great plans to pivot EV-only sales by 2035 is Volvo.
How EV Works
According to experts at Ree Auto, EVs work by plugging into charging points and taking electrical power from the grid. They keep this power in a rechargeable battery, powering electric motors that turn the wheels.
Compared to conventional cars or automobiles using gasoline, electric vehicles accelerate faster. So that means electric vehicles also feel lighter to drive.
Explaining Electric Vehicles
EVs have batteries instead of gasoline tanks and electric motors instead of internal combustion engines. How far they go depends on mileage rates.
For electric vehicles, efficiency is often measured the same way in conventional cars, only that you will need to exchange gallons of fuel with kWh. Of course, a more efficient rating translates to a low charging cost per mile.
For instance, EVs with a battery size of around 100kWh as well as an efficiency rating of three miles may travel 480kms on a single charge.
An EV with good efficiency these days gets 4 miles with kilowatt per hour. With 7.3kms per kWh, the Tesla Model 3 is among the best electric vehicles in terms of efficiency. But vehicles with efficiency figures in this range come at a high cost. Overall, modern EVs have an efficiency of between 3 and 3.5 miles per kWh.
Factors Affecting Range in EVs
Numerous aspects affect mileage per charge in electric vehicles and how they can go. One common factor is the weather. Electric vehicles can lose charging capacity during cold weather because it slows down chemical reactions in batteries. Some studies show that when an HVAC unit is used to heat the car, and the mercury dips to around 20°F, the driving range will be decreased by 40%.
Another factor is driving speed. The faster a driver drives a car, the more energy they use, resulting in charge loss. For instance, if you drive fast on a highway, you are likely to recharge your car sooner. Other factors may include the following:
- Vehicle’s design and weight
- Driving habits and style
Batteries in EVs
Like smartphone batteries, electric vehicle batteries can also lose their capacity with time. That is because nearly all EVs use a lithium-ion battery that naturally degrades as they run through discharging and charging cycles. However, this battery is well-suited for your electric vehicle.
How long this battery lasts depends on several things, not the total miles an EV covers. But in general, expect your EV’s battery to last for about ten years.
Closing Remarks!
For your everyday driving, get in, drive your EV, come home, and plug it into a charging point to start the next day with full electrical power. Unless you plan to take a long trip, you will not find it necessary to recharge your EV in the daytime.