Will I make it from Raleigh to Richmond?
In July, 3 of 5 of these popular EVs make it from Raleigh to Richmond on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, none do. The biggest winter drain: 36°F cold costs 12%.
169 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 · 36°F
Close
Arrives with 1–28%
36°F cold costs 11%
July · 75°F
Yes
Arrives with 15–35%
Highway driving uses 64%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 36°F
Close
Arrives with 8–33%
36°F cold costs 10%
July · 75°F
Yes
Arrives with 21–39%
Highway driving uses 59%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 36°F
No
Arrives with 0–24%
36°F cold costs 11%
July · 75°F
Close
Arrives with 8–30%
Highway driving uses 70%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 36°F
Close
Arrives with 0–26%
36°F cold costs 11%
July · 75°F
Yes
Arrives with 10–32%
Highway driving uses 68%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 36°F
No
Arrives with 0–21%
36°F cold costs 12%
July · 75°F
Close
Arrives with 5–28%
Highway driving uses 73%
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
- Sheetz Store 504 (Rocky Mount, NC) — Rocky Mount, NC · Electrify America · mile 48 · up to 350 kW
- Walmart 2805 (Emporia, VA) — Emporia, VA · Electrify America · mile 104 · up to 350 kW
- Pilot Travel Center 384 — Richmond, VA · EVgo · mile 151 · up to 350 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Raleigh to Richmond in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 0 of 5 popular EVs make the 169-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 36°F.
Where should I charge between Raleigh and Richmond?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Sheetz Store 504 (Rocky Mount, NC) (mile 48); Walmart 2805 (Emporia, VA) (mile 104); Pilot Travel Center 384 (mile 151). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Raleigh and Richmond?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 36°F cold costs 11%.
What is the best EV for Raleigh to Richmond?
Of the 5 popular EVs we check, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD arrives with the most charge on a January day: about 21% (8–33%) from a 90% start. In July it arrives with about 31%.
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.