Will I make it from Charlotte to Raleigh?
In July, 4 of 5 of these popular EVs make it from Charlotte to Raleigh on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, 1 of 5 do. The biggest winter drain: 37°F cold costs 11%.
170 miles, about 2 h 42 min of driving. Leaving at 8 AM on a typical January and July day.
Check your own car and charge level
January and July, car by car
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD
January · 37°F
Close
Arrives with 5–32%
37°F cold costs 10%
July · 76°F
Yes
Arrives with 18–37%
Highway driving uses 61%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 37°F
Yes
Arrives with 12–36%
37°F cold costs 10%
July · 76°F
Yes
Arrives with 23–41%
Highway driving uses 57%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 37°F
Close
Arrives with 0–27%
37°F cold costs 10%
July · 76°F
Yes
Arrives with 12–33%
Highway driving uses 67%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 37°F
Close
Arrives with 1–29%
37°F cold costs 10%
July · 76°F
Yes
Arrives with 14–35%
Highway driving uses 65%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 37°F
Close
Arrives with 0–25%
37°F cold costs 11%
July · 76°F
Close
Arrives with 9–31%
Highway driving uses 69%
Yes means the low end of the range still arrives with 10% or more. Close means the likely answer does, but a colder or windier day might not. No means you'll need to stop.
Best fast-charging stops on the way
- Concord, NC Rechargery Relay - Branchview Dr NE — Concord, NC · IONNA · mile 22 · up to 400 kW
- Walmart 5320 (Greensboro, NC) — Greensboro, NC · Electrify America · mile 87 · up to 350 kW
- Sheetz Store 647 (Hillsborough, NC) — Hillsborough, NC · Electrify America · mile 130 · up to 350 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Charlotte to Raleigh in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 1 of 5 popular EVs make the 170-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 37°F.
Where should I charge between Charlotte and Raleigh?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Concord, NC Rechargery Relay - Branchview Dr NE (mile 22); Walmart 5320 (Greensboro, NC) (mile 87); Sheetz Store 647 (Hillsborough, NC) (mile 130). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Charlotte and Raleigh?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 37°F cold costs 10%.
What is the best EV for Charlotte to Raleigh?
Of the 5 popular EVs we check, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD arrives with the most charge on a January day: about 25% (12–36%) from a 90% start. In July it arrives with about 33%.
How we work this out
Each answer drives the real road route in 30-meter steps: speed, climbs and descents (with regenerative braking), rolling resistance, cabin heating or cooling, a cold battery's lower capacity, and the typical wind. Temperatures are NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for each place along the way. Every car is calibrated to its EPA highway rating. Each car starts at 90%.
Updated . Sources: Stadia Maps road routes and elevation, NOAA climate normals, fueleconomy.gov, and the U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.