EV Travel Calculator (beta)

Plan and compare EV trips with realistic, physics-based estimates. Pick a mode (Range, Distance, or Time), set speed and weather, and see how different cars stack up—total time, charging stops, and energy use—in one view.

Last modified: Sep 20, 2025

What it does

  • Range mode: How far a car can go on one charge window (e.g., 100→0%, 100→10%, 80→10%) at your chosen speed and conditions.
  • Distance mode: Time, energy, and charging stops needed to cover a set route length.
  • Time mode: How far you can get within a time budget (driving + charging).
  • Units: Switch between metric and imperial.
  • Options: Battery SoH (state of health), heat-loss factor, trim level (wheel/tyre effects), and towing a trailer (presets).

How it works (high level)

We blend simple vehicle physics with real-world calibration:

  • Aerodynamic drag (Cd × frontal area): grows with speed² and air density (temperature).
  • Rolling resistance (tyres + mass): scaled by road condition (dry → wet/snow) and vehicle mass.
  • Accessory & climate loads: a background load plus your HVAC setting.
  • Calibration: Fitted to WLTP and highway anchors (e.g., 90/120 km/h), so results are at battery level (drivetrain/inverter losses implicitly included).
  • Battery & trim: SoH (battery health), heat-loss (extra losses in cold), and trim (wheels/tyres).
  • Towing: Adds trailer mass and a partial aero penalty based on trailer frontal area and how much is exposed outside the vehicle’s wake.

Charging overhead & losses (assumptions)

  • Per-stop overhead: +5 minutes.
    We add a fixed 5-minute buffer on top of pure charging time to cover exiting the road, locating a stall, plugging in, session start, and rejoining traffic/getting back up to speed.
  • Charging loss: 5%.
    We assume ~5% energy loss in the charging process. The “added energy” shown in results is what reaches your battery; the charger screen (and what you pay for) will typically be about 5% higher.
    Example: If the table shows 40 kWh added, expect roughly 42 kWh billed at the charger.

The calculator then estimates charging needs and timing to meet your target (Distance/Time modes) and lists each stop with SoC (state of charge) in→out and added kWh.

What you’ll see

  • Vehicle
  • Range / Distance / Total energy (depends on mode)
  • Consumption (Wh/km or mi/kWh)
  • Total time
  • Charging stops (count, durations, SoC in→out, added kWh)
  • Expand rows for per-stop details

Important notes & limitations

This is an estimate, not a guarantee. Real-world results vary due to:

  • Route specifics: elevation/grades, traffic, limits, roadworks
  • Weather: wind (head/cross), precipitation, road temperature/ice
  • Vehicle specifics: tyre type/pressure, payload, roof boxes/bike racks, driving style, pre-conditioning
  • Charging realities: availability, queues, shared power, station health, payment/apps
  • Data variance: manufacturer specs vs. your car’s curve, battery conditioning

Plan conservatively and confirm with a dedicated route planner before long trips. No warranty is provided; use at your own risk.

Tips for better estimates

  • Set a realistic cruising speed for your route and laws.
  • Match temperature and road condition to the forecast.
  • Enter your SoH if the battery is degraded; use heat-loss in very cold weather.
  • Choose the trim you actually drive.
  • If towing, pick the closest trailer type.

Model version: v1.0 · Last updated: 2025-09-20