Highway Range vs City Range

EVs are usually more efficient in the city than on the highway. That’s the opposite of many gasoline cars—and the reason is simple: at higher speeds, the energy cost of pushing air out of the way becomes the dominant loss.

The physics in plain language

• Drag rises fast: Aerodynamic drag grows roughly with speed squared. Power required grows even faster.
• Wind counts as speed: A 10 mph headwind at 70 mph behaves like 80 mph airflow. Tailwinds help, headwinds hurt.
• Cold + speed stacks: Winter losses and highway losses compound—plan more reserve for fast winter routes.

What helps most

1. Slow down a little: If you need range, reduce speed first. The last 5–10 mph often has the worst efficiency.
2. Use cruise wisely: Cruise is great on flat roads. In hills, a gentle manual approach can sometimes avoid aggressive power spikes.
3. Keep tires in spec: Low pressure increases rolling resistance and heat—bad for efficiency and safety.

Use the calculator for “what‑if”

In Auto‑Chase, try your typical highway speed and then reduce it by 5 mph. You’ll often see a meaningful difference in estimated range—enough to skip a stop or arrive with a safer buffer.