Will I make it from Philadelphia to Richmond?
In July, none of these popular EVs make it from Philadelphia to Richmond on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, none do. The biggest winter drain: 34°F cold costs 19%.
255 miles, about 4 h 6 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 · 34°F
No
Runs out about 42 mi short
34°F cold costs 18%
July · 77°F
No
Runs out about 7 mi short
77°F heat costs 2%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 34°F
No
Runs out about 26 mi short
34°F cold costs 17%
July · 77°F
No
Arrives with 0–16%
77°F heat costs 2%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 34°F
No
Runs out about 56 mi short
34°F cold costs 18%
July · 77°F
No
Runs out about 23 mi short
77°F heat costs 2%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 34°F
No
Runs out about 50 mi short
34°F cold costs 18%
July · 77°F
No
Runs out about 16 mi short
77°F heat costs 2%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 34°F
No
Runs out about 62 mi short
34°F cold costs 19%
July · 77°F
No
Runs out about 30 mi short
77°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
- Wawa Store 840 (New Castle, DE) — New Castle, DE · Electrify America · mile 34 · up to 350 kW
- Target 1416 (Springfield, VA) — Springfield, VA · Electrify America · mile 160 · up to 350 kW
- Ashland, VA Rechargery @ Wawa - N Washington Hwy — Ashland, VA · IONNA · mile 238 · up to 400 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Philadelphia to Richmond in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 0 of 5 popular EVs make the 255-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 34°F.
Where should I charge between Philadelphia and Richmond?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Wawa Store 840 (New Castle, DE) (mile 34); Target 1416 (Springfield, VA) (mile 160); Ashland, VA Rechargery @ Wawa - N Washington Hwy (mile 238). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Philadelphia and Richmond?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 34°F cold costs 18%.
What is the best EV for Philadelphia to Richmond?
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 26 miles short. In July it arrives with about 4%.
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.