Will I make it from Riverside to Bakersfield?
In July, 4 of 5 of these popular EVs make it from Riverside to Bakersfield on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, 2 of 5 do. The biggest winter drain: tejon Pass climb uses 7%.
163 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 · 49°F
Yes
Arrives with 11–33%
Tejon Pass climb uses 6%
July · 73°F
Yes
Arrives with 17–34%
Tejon Pass climb uses 6%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 49°F
Yes
Arrives with 16–36%
Tejon Pass climb uses 7%
July · 73°F
Yes
Arrives with 21–37%
Tejon Pass climb uses 7%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 49°F
Close
Arrives with 5–29%
Tejon Pass climb uses 6%
July · 73°F
Yes
Arrives with 11–30%
Tejon Pass climb uses 6%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 49°F
Close
Arrives with 9–32%
Tejon Pass climb uses 5%
July · 73°F
Yes
Arrives with 15–33%
Tejon Pass climb uses 5%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 49°F
Close
Arrives with 3–27%
Tejon Pass climb uses 6%
July · 73°F
Close
Arrives with 9–28%
Tejon Pass climb uses 6%
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
- Mountain Vista Plaza — Duarte, CA · EVgo · mile 42 · up to 350 kW
- Inventrust Stevenson Ranch Plaza (Stevenson Ranch, — Stevenson Ranch, CA · Electrify America · mile 83 · up to 350 kW
- Tejon Ranch, CA – Outlets at Tejon Pkwy - Tesla Supercharger — Arvin, CA · Tesla · mile 135 · up to 250 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Riverside to Bakersfield in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 2 of 5 popular EVs make the 163-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 49°F.
Where should I charge between Riverside and Bakersfield?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Mountain Vista Plaza (mile 42); Inventrust Stevenson Ranch Plaza (Stevenson Ranch, (mile 83); Tejon Ranch, CA – Outlets at Tejon Pkwy - Tesla Supercharger (mile 135). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
How much battery does the climb between Riverside and Bakersfield use?
In a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the Tejon Pass climb uses about 6% of the battery on a January day. Coming down gives some of it back through regenerative braking, but not all of it.
What is the best EV for Riverside to Bakersfield?
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% (16–36%) from a 90% start. In July it arrives with about 30%.
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.