EV Range by Battery kWh

Electric Vehicle Range from Battery Capacity

Range is just how far an electric vehicle (EV) can go on a full charge. You work it out with range_km = battery_kwh × 1000 / consumption_wh_km, or the same thing written as range_km = battery_kwh / (kwh_per_100km / 100). Take a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range: with a 60 kWh usable battery and 150 Wh/km consumption, that works out to about 400 km.

Look at a few popular models to see the spread. The BYD Dolphin (44 kWh) aims for around 300 km, the BMW iX1 (64 kWh) gets to about 440 km, and the long-range Teslas with 75-100 kWh packs go past 500 km. Those numbers come from test cycles like WLTP (Europe) or EPA (USA). On the road you'll usually see closer to 70-80% of WLTP, once highway speeds, the HVAC, hills, tire pressure, and an aging battery all take their cut.

Applications

Knowing your range matters in a lot of everyday situations. It tells you whether a trip's legs line up with charger stops, helps you weigh one model against another before you buy, and informs how you set up charging at home. Fleets lean on it when deciding what to electrify, and it shows how your efficiency shifts with how you actually drive. It's also the basis for comparing running costs against an ICE (internal combustion) car and for gauging how much battery degradation will cost you down the road.

FAQ

Why is my real range lower than the brochure? Those brochure figures are WLTP or NEDC numbers measured in a lab. Out in the world, highway speeds, the air conditioning, cold weather (battery chemistry slows down below 10 °C), and a roof rack can each knock off a chunk, and together they can pull range down by 20-40%.

What is the Brazilian standard for EV consumption? Brazil goes by PROCONVE/INMETRO labeling, which lists MJ/km along with an equivalent km/L. The label breaks it into city and highway figures, and those numbers are meant to be compared across models.

Does battery capacity equal usable capacity? No. Carmakers hold back a buffer, usually 5-15%, to keep the battery healthy. A pack labeled 75 kWh might only give you ~70 kWh in practice, and that smaller number is the one that sets your real range.