Will I make it from Philadelphia to Virginia Beach?
In July, none of these popular EVs make it from Philadelphia to Virginia Beach on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, none do. The biggest winter drain: 37°F cold costs 16%.
274 miles, about 5 h 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 · 37°F
No
Runs out about 29 mi short
37°F cold costs 15%
July · 78°F
No
Arrives with 0–17%
78°F heat costs 3%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 37°F
No
Runs out about 9 mi short
37°F cold costs 15%
July · 78°F
No
Arrives with 0–21%
78°F heat costs 3%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 37°F
No
Runs out about 45 mi short
37°F cold costs 15%
July · 78°F
No
Runs out about 9 mi short
78°F heat costs 3%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 37°F
No
Runs out about 38 mi short
37°F cold costs 15%
July · 78°F
No
Arrives with 0–15%
78°F heat costs 3%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 37°F
No
Runs out about 54 mi short
37°F cold costs 16%
July · 78°F
No
Runs out about 18 mi short
78°F heat costs 3%
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
- Electric Era Charging Station — Harrington, DE · Electric Era · mile 99 · up to 200 kW
- Exmore, VA - Tesla Supercharger — Exmore, VA · Tesla · mile 213 · up to 250 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Philadelphia to Virginia Beach in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 0 of 5 popular EVs make the 274-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 37°F.
Where should I charge between Philadelphia and Virginia Beach?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Wawa Store 840 (New Castle, DE) (mile 34); Electric Era Charging Station (mile 99); Exmore, VA - Tesla Supercharger (mile 213). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Philadelphia and Virginia Beach?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 37°F cold costs 15%.
What is the best EV for Philadelphia to Virginia Beach?
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 9 miles short. In July it arrives with about 9%.
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.