Do you really need 300 miles of range?

It’s tempting to opt for the longest range possible when choosing your EV - but do you need it?

Whilst it's nice to have a few extra miles in hand, opting for an EV with a range far beyond what you’re going to use day-to-day could just bump up the price with relatively little extra benefit.

Given that most drivers cover less than 200 miles per week, chances are you could be perfectly ok with less range than you expect.

For example, the Ford Explorer (an SUV with a 200-250 mile range) lists at around £45,000, depending on the model. For the Polestar 3, you’re looking at around £69,000, with the extra range of 438 miles being one of the reasons for the higher price.

Here’s how to tell how much range you really need.

In real terms, 300 miles of driving gets you from London to Edinburgh.

Chances are, you don’t drive this far in a week.

In fact, our drivers cover an average of just 167 miles per week – or just under 24 miles per day. This means that paying less for an EV with a 200-250 mile range could more than cover your needs.

For most drivers, an EV within this bracket could go over a week without needing a charge - and when it does, you can plug it in at home and charge overnight for clean, convenient, and cheap charging rates.

What’s the perfect range for an EV?

There’s no right answer – it depends entirely on how far you need to drive, and whether you’re planning on using your EV for regular long-distance driving. Take a look at the examples below to get an idea of what might suit you.

Your ideal range

Around 200 miles.

Mostly, you’re using the car to get to work and back, with a couple of quick errands in between. You might not need another car, or you may use another car for longer-distance driving.

Cars to check out

The nifty little Dacia Spring works fantastically for city commuting, whilst the BYD Dolphin offers a little more room in the back for the kids.

Your ideal range

200-250 miles

Enjoy getting out and about at the weekend? Or, perhaps you have a longer commute or live somewhere quite rural, where things are a bit more spread out. If so, you may need a little extra juice across the week.

Cars to check out

The Peugeot e-2008 is the perfect all-rounder for this range bracket, with a comfortable cabin for longer commutes and plenty of boot space for those weekend trips away.

Your ideal range

+250 miles

Whether travelling for work, family, or leisure, you cover some serious miles every week. If you make several weekly journeys of an hour or more each way, it might be worth looking at a longer-range EV to minimise charging stops en-route.

Cars to check out

If you’re driving this much, do it in style with the Mercedes Benz EQS – elegance, style, and ultimate comfort of long-distance journeys.

Want to maximise your range? Here are our top tips:

• Use a smart tariff to charge your car at home. Intelligent Octopus Go - EV Saver gives you five hours of cheap electricity each night, and automatically charges your car when energy is cheapest.
• Charge at work or whilst you do the shopping. Chargers in public car parks or at workplaces are increasingly common – use these to get a quick boost whilst you’re doing something else.

Tie your charging stops in with your usual breaks. Stopping for the loo, a coffee or a quick rest? Take the opportunity to give your car a few extra minutes of charge.

Find an EV that fits perfectly with your lifestyle – plus benefit from:

• Smart charging - save money at home and on the road with exclusive discounts on Electroverse and Octopus Energy’s smart tariff.
• Servicing and maintenance - we’ll keep your car in top shape with included servicing, maintenance, and repairs.

Extra Octopus perks - save £500 on heat pumps and solar panels with Octopus energy and slash your energy bills further (plus more goodies when your car is delivered)