Electric Vehicles for Long Road Trips Prioritizing Range Over Everything Over 400 miles
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Generally speaking, fully electric vehicles (or EVs) have never been suited for long road trips until recent years. Automakers have come a long way from producing cars like the Nissan Leaf, which is still the cheapest EV you can buy, and are now producing properly competitive machines that match the range of a lot of internal combustion vehicles.
Naturally, charging infrastructure has been set up along highways to support drivers who need to charge up their EVs who are going on long road trips. Tesla pioneered this with its revolutionary supercharger network nearly a decade ago, with many others playing catch-up. But which cars are best suited to this task? Here is a list of 10 of the best EVs for long road trips.
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10 GMC Hummer EV 329 Miles
The GMC Hummer EV is a hugely important vehicle because not only does it represent the return of the Hummer name to the SUV-dominated automotive marketplace, but it also allows its customers to travel a long way before charging up.
GM's estimated top range of 350 miles is hugely impressive, and the EPA's combined figure of 329 miles in long-range form makes the Hummer EV ever so more tempting in the new field of premium electric trucks. The interior of the Hummer EV, has a more rugged aura than many other EVs.
9 Hyundai Ioniq 6 340 Miles
The Ioniq 6 follows up from the highly successful Hyundai Ioniq 5 and shares the same platform and powertrain. However, due to a more aerodynamic body, the 6 beats the 5 in terms of range making it more suitable for long road trips.
The long-range version boasts a 340-mile range, which puts the teardrop EV right into the firing line of the very best from Tesla. This could be the Model 3's closest ever competitor and observing how successful the Ioniq 5 was, the 6 should steal away a fair few Tesla customers, who traditionally use them for longer trips.
A few disadvantages of EVs tend to be higher pricing, low range, and a lack of character in most. The Ioniq 6 challenges all of that and promises to be a more affordable, characterful car with the range to support it.
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8 Mercedes EQS 350 Miles
One of the more luxurious cars on the list comes in the form of the Mercedes EQS. Effectively, this is the S-Class of Mercedes' fully electric EQ range, which already makes it an ideal place to be on a long road trip.
The EQS boasts luxury, the very best in MBUX tech, and the EQS 580 boasts a 350-mile range according to the EPA with potentially more to be verified, as Mercedes themselves are claiming up to 453-miles in the latest update to the car.
AMG have even got their hands on the EQS, which is an exciting prospect.
7 Tesla Model X 351 Miles
Tesla have long been the dominator of the EV market sector since disrupting the global car industry with the release of the Model S. The Model X followed with its many pros and cons.
The popular Model X with its signature falcon doors has a range of up to 351-miles combined range and is supported by Tesla's immense range of superchargers, which are currently known to be class leaders in electric vehicle charging.
It's a seven-seater car as well, so your entire family can comfortably join for the ride as you travel across states, provided you plan the stops, of course. For 2023 though, the Model X starts at $111,000 which is noticeably high compared to the Model 3.
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6 Tesla Model 3 Long Range 358 Miles
Easily, Tesla's most impactful and important model is the Model 3 which has been praised for offering an excellent, well-rounded package for fairly reasonable money. At each trim's respective price point, the Model 3 is easily the car of choice if you wish to endure a long road trip.
In long-range form, the Model 3 has a range of 358-miles, and considering it's already taken the U.S. and European markets by storm in terms of popularity, it won't come as a surprise if Tesla update the cars with even more range due to the ever-increasing number of competitors.
The Model 3 Performance in particular is one of the best value fast cars on sale today, and is worth every penny, and arguably still the best EV all-rounder to buy.
5 Rivian R1T 400 Miles
The Rivian R1T (and R1S sister) took a while to come to market, but when it finally arrived, it caused a stir in the automotive world. The R1T was very fast, very quirky, and most importantly, capable of going very far on a single charge.
For 2023, the Rivian R1T will be even more suited for long road trips with a maximum battery pack which will unlock up to 400 miles of range. This makes the R1T an excellent choice when doing cross-country motoring which is becoming more and more popular as the EV segment grows.
4 GMC Sierra EV Denali 400 Miles
The trucks from General Motors were tasked with playing catch-up with Ford, as the F-150 Lightning disrupted the pickup segment and forced other manufacturers to react and react fast.
The GMC Sierra EV Denali boasts 400 miles of estimated range from GMC, which easily ousts the Ford's maximum range. And the top-spec $100,000+ Denali model, will be equipped with some premium touches. This makes it a great choice for long road trips, something pickup truck drivers often do, so the Sierra EV Denali has that basis covered.
3 Chevrolet Silverado EV 400 Miles
GM's other response to Ford comes in the form of the Chevrolet Silverado EV, which positions itself as a slightly more direct competitor, since F-150 and Silverado battles have been occurring for decades.
The Silverado EV matches the Sierra EV Denali's range of up to 400 miles in long-range form and currently has the Ford trumped for the customer who demands a long range usually for work purposes. But as well as the core customer base, the Silverado EV is also set up to be fabulous for long road trips, should the owners ever need a break from carrying the equipment in the bed.
2 Tesla Model S 405 Miles
Since 2012, the Tesla Model S revolutionized the EV market by pitching itself to be the first and then-only electric vehicle to be able to cover long distances on a single charge and not look compromised while doing so.
The Model S keeps getting better and more sophisticated with age, and in current form, can travel up to 405 miles on a single charge, maintaining it as a competitive class act in the EV world. The Model S is also comfortable, nicely put-together, and effortlessly fast which are all ideal qualities when it comes to long road trips from state to state.
But if you want all-out speed, then you can't really go wrong with the insane Model S Plaid which can get from 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds.
1 Lucid Air 516 Miles
However, the Tesla might have its crown knocked off, as start-up brand, Lucid Motors have revealed the Air which has a truly spectacular 516-mile estimated range by the EPA.
If this ends up becoming achievable, then the Lucid Air will no doubt be the class-leader to beat when it comes to EV range which so many new customers care about as range anxiety is the main concern. Range anxiety is also a natural feeling when you take such a vehicle on long road trips, but the Lucid Air should comfortably cruise past a lot of highway service stations before its next charge.
Elon Musk, however, isn't so convinced the startup brand will end up becoming a success. It's down to Lucid's management therefore to prove him wrong.
Sources: GMC Pressroom, Hyundai Media, Mercedes-Benz Global Media, Tesla Media, Rivian, Chevrolet Pressroom, Lucid Motors
Longest-Range Electric Cars We've Ever Tested
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 may start at just $38,650, but its entry-level SE Standard Range trim won't take you 300 miles on a full charge. If you want to match the sort of range we squeezed out of an Ioniq 6 on our 75-mph real-world highway test, then you'll need to jump up to at least the $43,600 SEunofficially the SE Long Rangetrim, which swaps the Standard Range model's 58.0-kWh battery pack for a larger 77.4-kWh unit. The bigger battery also nets a rear motor that produces 225 horsepower (76 more than the Standard Range's motor), and it's available with all-wheel drive. What the 320-hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6 gains in straight-line speed, however, it loses in outright range, as evidenced by the 220-mile figure an all-wheel-drive Ioniq 6 returned in our testing.
- Base price: $38,650
- C/D rating: 10/10
MORE ABOUT THE HYUNDAI IONIQ 6
Everything You Need to Know About Road Tripping in an Electric Car This Summer
As someone who's driven a 2001 Isuzu Trooper most of her life, getting the keys to an electric car made me feel like I was trading in a Blackberry for an iPhone. With electric cars exploding in popularity, I traveled to sunny California last summer for a weeklong trip in Palm Springs where I rented an Audi E-Tron Sportback and took it all the way to Joshua Tree National Park.
Since this was my first time getting behind the wheel of an electric vehicle (EV), I wanted to make sure I was in an area filled with charging stations. To my surprise, I lasted the entire week without needing to use one. This was due to a combination of limiting myself to short drives and being able to charge up at my hotel the Parker Palm Springs but also because many of the latest EV models also have a median range of more than 250 miles.
All in all, there are many benefits to going green. Not only is opting for an EV great for the environment, but it even allows you to use the HOV lanes in certain states. Plus, you'll save on gas basically a selling feature in itself these days with gas prices soaring to more than $4 per gallon on average nationally and even topping more than $6 per gallon in California and don't get me started on how useful it is to have two separate trunks (thanks to no engine).Convinced and ready to hit the road? Here's everything you need to know to take the best EV road trip based on tips and tricks from my own time behind the wheel, guidance from experts, and even advice from my friends who drove a Tesla from Virginia all the way to Yellowstone National Park.
You can travel across the country.
As a first-time EV driver, I decided not to push the limits by only going from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree. However, it is possible to get your electric car across the country. Electrify America, one of the largest networks of EV charging stations, is set up in many states and continues to expand. "You can also search for EV chargers in Google Maps or Waze," Lauren Matison reported in the July 2023 issue ofTravel + Leisure. "Networks such as ChargePoint and Electrify America have helpful apps, too."
Certain states also allow EV drivers to use the HOV lanes, a great way to get to where you're going faster and save power. A popular long-haul route is from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. via Interstates 15 and 70; another is from San Diego to Jacksonville, FL., through Interstates 10 and 8.
Newlyweds and Tesla owners Wes McLaughlin and Emily Martin took a road trip from Virginia to Yellowstone, and back again.
"For our honeymoon, we drove from Richmond through the Midwest to Colorado, where we stayed for a few days before continuing north to Yellowstone," McLaughlin said. "We stayed near west Yellowstone in Idaho, and there was a charger just outside the park. We drove through snowstorms and buffalo herds without issues or worry that we wouldn't be able to get to a charger."
Choose hotels with charging stations.
When considering where to stay, opt for a hotel with a charging station. This way, you can park the car when you're done for the day and power it up overnight. PlugShare offers an easy-to-use map that shows accommodations with free charging stations alongside ones you have to pay for. Keep in mind, depending on the type of electric car you have, you may need an adapter to plug in (like plugging a Tesla into a non-Tesla charger, for example).
Fortunately, the Parker Palm Springs offered a charger, which fully juiced up the car battery overnight. For more options across the country, travelers can also search for electric charging as an amenity when looking for a place to stay on hotel search engines like Expedia.com.
RV parks are made for EVs.
One of the best ways to save during your trip is by stopping at RV parks along the way. In addition to giving you a place to camp and park as well as eliminating the need to pay for a hotel, RV parks allow you to charge your vehicle.
"Level 2 chargers are the same ones used by RVs for power," McLaughlin said. "If you rent a spot for an RV typically $35 to $50 you get a full charge and a good night's rest for a decent price. We spent several nights camping in the car when we just needed a place to sleep before continuing on the next day."
Know the different types of EV charging stations.
Not all EV chargers are the same. In fact, there are three different tiers. Level one is the slowest (think a standard 120-volt plug), according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. If your battery is nearing empty, it could take up to 50 hours to power it all the way up.
Level two is the most common and delivers a full charge from empty in anywhere from four to 10 hours. As for cost, it varies, but is typically significantly cheaper than paying for gas especially these days.
"Shopping centers are popular places for EV charging stations some even offer preferred parking spots," said Jason Zehr, a Chase Auto product strategy director. "You can have a meal and/or run errands while the car is charging, and some stores offer free charging to shoppers."
Level three, also known as Direct Current Fast Chargers, is the quickest option and gets you back on the road with a near-full battery in as little as 20 minutes. Again, the cost can vary and some Tesla Supercharger locations, for example, even offer on-peak and off-peak rates.
To conserve power, drivers can "[switch] off the heat or AC, [select] eco mode, if available, and avoid hard acceleration," Matison reported.
The warmer, the better.
Similar to your phone, EVs lose power quicker in cold weather, proving that summer road trips are the way to go. For those who end up hitting the open road in the winter, you're going to have to charge your car more often.
"If you're driving to a destination in cold weather, make sure to have an extra charge to get you there," Martin said. "We drove at 17 degrees Fahrenheit and lost battery fast."
Matison noted that chargers can fill up quickly in the summertime and advises travelers to "always keep some juice in reserve in case you need to find another plug-in."
Test the waters by renting an electric car.
If you don't own an EV and aren't quite ready to commit a road trip is the perfect way to try one out. Rental companies like Turo, Sixt, Hertz, and Enterprise all have their own electric car fleets, making it easy to set up a rental.
Understand the pros of buying an electric car.
There are incentives for investing in an electric vehicle of your own. Car owners can snag up to $7,500 in federal tax credits on plug-in EVs, according to the Internal Revenue Service, depending on the make of the car and how many vehicles have been sold. There are even more possible tax incentives at the state level.
Beyond not having to waste money on gas, you'll also save on maintenance. "I don't miss oil changes or replacing alternators and belts," McLaughlin said. "As someone who has never been a 'car guy,' it's nice to know that I can actually do all the maintenance on my car by myself, which is just adding windshield washer fluid."
When you're venturing out on long distances, it's also reassuring to drive something that has a lower chance of breaking down. Even when I was imagining a worst-case scenario of the EV running out of battery, I relaxed after remembering that Audi offers complimentary towing.
"Should a customer run out of battery unexpectedly, Audi roadside assistance will dispatch a tow truck and bring the customer and vehicle to the nearest charging location to ensure they can get back on the road as soon as possible," said Matt Mostafaei, an Audi E-Tron product manager.
