300 miles (Telsa) – Done at a CONSTANT 60 mph (actual range was 305). I don’t know if climate control was used. To me, though, its an extremely good real word test.

265 (EPA) – EPA’s new 5 (I believe its 5) cycle test, which is more agressive on high speeds, and climate control use. A good extreme test.

Now knowing how those numbers were generated, look at over EV’s and see their range test:

Nissan LEAF:

100 miles (LA4 Cycle) – an very extremely light test mostly all city driving. Extremely unrealistic

73 (EPA) – only used the very easy 2 cycle test with no climate control and max highway was 55 mph, still not very realistic.

So the numbers that Tesla is outputting for range is very realistic (both their 60 mph test and the EPA test) versus the numbers the Leaf, Volt, Ford Focus EV, etc. are using.

Using a 80 mph constant test is very misleading in range, in addition its unfair since the speed to power usage of an EV is an exponential curve, a speed change from 70 to 80 is an extremely large amount of addition energy when compared to 60 to 70 or 50 to 60. Under normal driving habits that means not driving like a NASCAR driver AND not driving like a slow hypermiller, you will get 265-300 miles of range.

Comparisons such as this you might as well say “tesla model S only gets 90 miles of range!*** ***Driving 100 mph with Heater to full. That is not fair. I am sure any regular gas car will get piddle range when you drive really fast with all the accessories going.

But a constant headwind, sustained for hours as you transit hundreds of miles seems like a low risk issue.

So Tesla might test under ideal conditions which would yield 200 mile range at 80mph. Sure driving uphill with headwinds and car fully loaded it it will go down but so will about any car.

Why not ask one of the 50 new owners instead of spending this much time in trying to infer some range.

Real owners usually love their cars and try to get the most out of them. They are a few Chevy Volt owners who have achieved 60 miles in all-electric mode. Most owners that I know exceed their cars’ stated range. The Nissan Leaf owner that I know achieved over 120 miles on a charge once and regularly exceeds 100 miles. Roadster owners have exceeded their cars stated range, and Model S owners will. These drastic range reductions predicted for the Model S have NOT been realized by the first crop of owners. Roadster owners have proven that there will be an approx. 80% drop in battery capacity in 8 years. The battery pack can be used for many years after that, if the owner so chooses. I still has an 80% capacity. The Model S battery is much more advanced and is more forgiving of misuse.

Predictions mean nothing. Actual range that owners are achieving should be published. Check some of Tesla’s forums. Owners are loving their cars! They do what Tesla says they will do and in some cases, more. I know that this car can take me 200 miles on a charge at interstate speeds.

Owners trying to get to a destination will not be traveling at 80mph. If I were to take a trip in my Model S, I would pre-cool it while it’s charging. Then I would travel at 70 mph and be easy on the pedal. There will be people whipping past me wondering why this dude is going so slow. I don’t care. I’m getting to my destination gas-free, stress-free, emission-free, and silently; and for only $6 worth of electricity plus whatever the charger costs. Charge time, it is definitely prohibitive to “1000 miles in a day” type road trips.

Here’s a 800 mile trip in a Model S.
6 AM drive for about 3 hours. Stop for breakfast and charging 10:30 set out again. 1:00 PM stop for lunch and charge. 2:00 set out again. 4:30 charge, eat dinner, and occupy myself. 6:00 set out again. 9:00 find a hotel and charge. Viola, 800 miles in an electric car on $24 dollars worth of electricity, plus what ever the charger costs.
Prius: 50 mpg Gas: $3.30 per gallon; 16 gallons used; $48.40 Time: 10 hours drive time at 80mph; 30 min. for lunch; 10 min. for gas stop; 20 min. bathroom breaks; ETA 5:00 PM

BTW, Any trip that takes more than one day by car, I’m flying.

Most houses have two or more vehicles parked in front of them. Most owners already have two or more vehicles at their disposal. Using their other vehicle for the 1% of the time spent doing roadtrips and the highly efficient electric car 99% of the time is much more reasonable than driving a gas-burner 100% of the time because of the 1% that is if cost is not the driving factor.

In my experieince, my Volt will get between 4 miles to 4.5 miles per KWh in “normaL’ slow driving (no faster than 60mph) with/without A/C only impact it by at most 2 miles in range.

But if I speed up to 75-80mph, I get between 2.5-2.8 miles per KWh. If I carry extra people and go over hills, 2.2-2.4 miles per KWh.

Nissan Leaf is a bit better due to lower weight. But generally, 4 miles per KWh at high speed is reasonable.

So, based on those number, a Tesla 85KWh battery should give you 210 to 280 miles in range. That is assuming no reserves and no heating.

Heating can easily shave off 20-30% in range if NOT more…