Will I make it from Detroit to Buffalo?
In July, none of these popular EVs make it from Detroit to Buffalo on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, none do. The biggest winter drain: 25°F cold costs 29%.
266 miles, about 4 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 · 25°F
No
Runs out about 68 mi short
25°F cold costs 28%
July · 71°F
No
Runs out about 2 mi short
Highway driving uses 91%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 25°F
No
Runs out about 51 mi short
25°F cold costs 27%
July · 71°F
No
Arrives with 0–17%
The 500 ft climb uses 1%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 25°F
No
Runs out about 81 mi short
25°F cold costs 28%
July · 71°F
No
Runs out about 28 mi short
Highway driving uses 98%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 25°F
No
Runs out about 77 mi short
25°F cold costs 28%
July · 71°F
No
Runs out about 17 mi short
Highway driving uses 95%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 25°F
No
Runs out about 87 mi short
25°F cold costs 29%
July · 71°F
No
Runs out about 34 mi short
Highway driving uses 101%
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
- QUICKLEES#32 Q PORTER RD 3 — Niagara Falls, NY · ChargePoint · mile 248 · up to 63 kW
- Macerich Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, NY) — Niagara Falls, NY · Electrify America · mile 249 · up to 350 kW
- EVolve NY Niagara Falls — Niagara Falls, NY · Electrify America · mile 249 · up to 350 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Detroit to Buffalo in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 0 of 5 popular EVs make the 266-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 25°F.
Where should I charge between Detroit and Buffalo?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: QUICKLEES#32 Q PORTER RD 3 (mile 248); Macerich Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, NY) (mile 249); EVolve NY Niagara Falls (mile 249). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Detroit and Buffalo?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 25°F cold costs 28%.
What is the best EV for Detroit to Buffalo?
None of the 5 popular EVs we check make it on a January day from a 90% start. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD gets closest, running out about 51 miles short. In July it arrives with about 6%.
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.