Will I make it from Houston to Austin?
In July, 2 of 5 of these popular EVs make it from Houston to Austin on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, 1 of 5 do. The biggest winter drain: 47°F cold costs 5%.
165 miles, about 2 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 · 47°F
Close
Arrives with 8–32%
47°F cold costs 5%
July · 80°F
Yes
Arrives with 14–34%
80°F heat costs 2%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 47°F
Yes
Arrives with 15–37%
47°F cold costs 4%
July · 80°F
Yes
Arrives with 19–38%
80°F heat costs 2%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 47°F
Close
Arrives with 1–28%
47°F cold costs 5%
July · 80°F
Close
Arrives with 8–29%
The 600 ft climb uses 2%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 47°F
Close
Arrives with 3–30%
47°F cold costs 5%
July · 80°F
Close
Arrives with 10–32%
80°F heat costs 2%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 47°F
Close
Arrives with 0–26%
47°F cold costs 5%
July · 80°F
Close
Arrives with 4–27%
80°F heat costs 2%
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
- Gigahub Katy Freeway, Houston, TX — Houston, TX · bp pulse · mile 18 · up to 150 kW
- Snappy's Market (Columbus, TX) — Columbus, TX · Electrify America · mile 71 · up to 350 kW
- Bastrop, TX - Tesla Supercharger — Bastrop, TX · Tesla · mile 132 · up to 250 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Houston to Austin in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 1 of 5 popular EVs make the 165-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 47°F.
Where should I charge between Houston and Austin?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Gigahub Katy Freeway, Houston, TX (mile 18); Snappy's Market (Columbus, TX) (mile 71); Bastrop, TX - Tesla Supercharger (mile 132). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Houston and Austin?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 47°F cold costs 5%.
What is the best EV for Houston to Austin?
Of the 5 popular EVs we check, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD arrives with the most charge on a January day: about 27% (15–37%) from a 90% start. In July it arrives with about 29%.
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.