Range estimator

Real-World Range

Estimate available range across typical UK temperatures while preserving a chosen battery reserve.

Choose your driving type

The calculator shows warm, mild, cool and cold-weather range for the driving type you choose.

Warm: 20°C and above, when the battery is warm but air conditioning may use some energy.

Mild: 10°C to below 20°C, with little cabin heating or cooling needed.

Cool: 0°C to below 10°C, when heating and a cooler battery begin to reduce efficiency.

Cold: below 0°C, when cabin heating and a cold battery reduce efficiency most.

Motorway: sustained higher-speed driving, typically around 60–70 mph. Selecting it gives all four temperature estimates for motorway driving.

The battery’s advertised total or gross capacity in kWh. If you already know the usable kWh, enter that here and set Usable battery to 100%.
The percentage of the rated battery that the car makes available. This is a percentage, not kWh. Use 100% when Rated battery already contains the usable capacity.
The charge percentage currently shown by the car.
The battery percentage you want left on arrival. A 10% reserve gives some protection against diversions, weather and optimistic estimates.
Expected efficiency for the selected driving type at 20°C and above, in miles per kWh. Air conditioning, very high heat and driving style can still reduce it.
Expected efficiency for the selected driving type from 10°C to below 20°C, in miles per kWh. Your car’s recent trip average is the best guide.
Expected efficiency for the selected driving type from 0°C to below 10°C. Use your car’s recent average if available.
Expected efficiency for the selected driving type below 0°C. It should normally be the lowest of the four values; use your winter average if known.

Why electric-car range changes in UK conditions

An EV’s usable range is not one fixed number. Temperature, speed, wind, rain, gradients, tyres, heating and battery condition all affect miles per kWh. The four temperature bands provide scenarios rather than guaranteed distances.

Mixed driving

Mixed use combines urban, rural and faster roads. Regenerative braking and lower average speed can make it more efficient than sustained high-speed driving.

Motorway driving

Air resistance rises quickly with speed, so prolonged 60–70 mph travel commonly reduces efficiency. Select Motorway when most of the planned journey is at sustained higher speed.

Temperature bands

Warm is 20°C or above, Mild is 10°C to below 20°C, Cool is 0°C to below 10°C, and Cold is below 0°C. Adjust the efficiency inputs when you have real data from your own EV.

Plan with a margin

Use the result as a starting point and keep a suitable reserve. For a specific route, the Miles Needed calculator converts journey distance into a target charge.