Will I make it from Denver to Santa Fe?
In July, none of these popular EVs make it from Denver to Santa Fe on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, none do. The biggest winter drain: 35°F cold costs 27%.
390 miles, about 5 h 30 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 · 35°F
No
Runs out about 192 mi short
35°F cold costs 25%
July · 73°F
No
Runs out about 151 mi short
Raton Pass climb uses 10%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 35°F
No
Runs out about 183 mi short
35°F cold costs 24%
July · 73°F
No
Runs out about 132 mi short
Raton Pass climb uses 10%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 35°F
No
Runs out about 204 mi short
35°F cold costs 26%
July · 73°F
No
Runs out about 180 mi short
Raton Pass climb uses 9%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 35°F
No
Runs out about 197 mi short
35°F cold costs 26%
July · 73°F
No
Runs out about 162 mi short
Raton Pass climb uses 8%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 35°F
No
Runs out about 211 mi short
35°F cold costs 27%
July · 73°F
No
Runs out about 182 mi short
Raton Pass climb uses 9%
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
- Pilot Travel Center 1110 — Monument, CO · EVgo · mile 52 · up to 350 kW
- Walmart 962 (Trinidad, CO) — Trinidad, CO · Electrify America · mile 199 · up to 350 kW
- Conoco Wagon Mound (Wagon Mound, NM) — Wagon Mound, NM · Electrify America · mile 283 · up to 350 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Denver to Santa Fe in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 0 of 5 popular EVs make the 390-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 35°F.
Where should I charge between Denver and Santa Fe?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Pilot Travel Center 1110 (mile 52); Walmart 962 (Trinidad, CO) (mile 199); Conoco Wagon Mound (Wagon Mound, NM) (mile 283). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Denver and Santa Fe?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 35°F cold costs 25%.
What is the best EV for Denver to Santa Fe?
None of the 5 popular EVs we check make it on a January day from a 90% start. The Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD gets closest, running out about 192 miles short. In July it arrives with about 0%.
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.