Will I make it from Columbus to Indianapolis?
In July, 3 of 5 of these popular EVs make it from Columbus to Indianapolis on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, none do. The biggest winter drain: 24°F cold costs 20%.
176 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 · 24°F
No
Arrives with 0–22%
24°F cold costs 19%
July · 70°F
Yes
Arrives with 16–35%
Highway driving uses 63%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 24°F
Close
Arrives with 0–26%
24°F cold costs 18%
July · 70°F
Yes
Arrives with 22–39%
Highway driving uses 59%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 24°F
No
Arrives with 0–17%
24°F cold costs 19%
July · 70°F
Close
Arrives with 10–30%
Highway driving uses 69%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 24°F
No
Arrives with 0–20%
24°F cold costs 19%
July · 70°F
Yes
Arrives with 12–32%
Highway driving uses 67%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 24°F
No
Runs out about 4 mi short
24°F cold costs 20%
July · 70°F
Close
Arrives with 7–28%
Highway driving uses 71%
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
- Market at Hilliard — Hilliard, OH · EVgo · mile 9 · up to 350 kW
- McDonald's 40 Triggs Rd — Brookville, OH · EVgo · mile 80 · up to 350 kW
- Meijer 131 (Indianapolis, IN) — Indianapolis, IN · Electrify America · mile 164 · up to 350 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Columbus to Indianapolis in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 0 of 5 popular EVs make the 176-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 24°F.
Where should I charge between Columbus and Indianapolis?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Market at Hilliard (mile 9); McDonald's 40 Triggs Rd (mile 80); Meijer 131 (Indianapolis, IN) (mile 164). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Columbus and Indianapolis?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 24°F cold costs 19%.
What is the best EV for Columbus to Indianapolis?
Of the 5 popular EVs we check, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD arrives with the most charge on a January day: about 14% (0–26%) from a 90% start. In July it arrives with about 31%.
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.