Will I make it from Sacramento to Fresno?
In July, 2 of 5 of these popular EVs make it from Sacramento to Fresno on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, 1 of 5 do. The biggest winter drain: 45°F cold costs 6%.
176 miles, about 2 h 42 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 · 45°F
Close
Arrives with 5–31%
45°F cold costs 6%
July · 73°F
Yes
Arrives with 14–33%
Highway driving uses 66%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 45°F
Yes
Arrives with 12–35%
45°F cold costs 6%
July · 73°F
Yes
Arrives with 20–37%
Highway driving uses 61%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 45°F
Close
Arrives with 0–26%
45°F cold costs 6%
July · 73°F
Close
Arrives with 7–29%
Highway driving uses 71%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 45°F
Close
Arrives with 0–29%
45°F cold costs 6%
July · 73°F
Close
Arrives with 9–31%
Highway driving uses 69%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 45°F
Close
Arrives with 0–24%
45°F cold costs 6%
July · 73°F
Close
Arrives with 4–27%
Highway driving uses 74%
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
- Walmart 3352 (Stockton, CA) — Stockton, CA · Electrify America · mile 40 · up to 350 kW
- TA Winton Parkway, Livingston, CA — Livingston, CA · bp pulse · mile 102 · up to 400 kW
- Walmart 1583 (Madera, CA) — Madera, CA · Electrify America · mile 150 · up to 350 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Sacramento to Fresno in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 1 of 5 popular EVs make the 176-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 45°F.
Where should I charge between Sacramento and Fresno?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: Walmart 3352 (Stockton, CA) (mile 40); TA Winton Parkway, Livingston, CA (mile 102); Walmart 1583 (Madera, CA) (mile 150). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Sacramento and Fresno?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 45°F cold costs 6%.
What is the best EV for Sacramento to Fresno?
Of the 5 popular EVs we check, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD arrives with the most charge on a January day: about 25% (12–35%) 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.