Electric cars aren’t just for the future. A test of electric, gas, and hybrid vehicles during a 10,000-mile road trip across the US to see which is the most fuel efficient was conducted.
Tesla has a longer range than some gas-powered cars.
Is the Tesla Model 3 the best electric car?
The Tesla on our test had a range of 448 miles, nearly matching that of the Toyota Camry. The Chevrolet Malibu managed a range of 439 miles, but both trailed the Hyundai hybrid.
Tesla drivers were concerned about running out of power in their cars, especially because the battery is supposed to be changed often. We found that only five of the 21 charges we recorded started with the battery at below 50%. Clearly, many Tesla drivers are too worried about stopping for a charge and end up topping off a nearly-full battery.
Over and Above Charging, What Other Factors Determine Costs?
We used an app to find chargers, which we were able to find easily even in the more remote part of Idaho and Utah.
Tesla’s Superchargers are a much more versatile and faster way to charge your car. Compared to other charging systems, it is much quicker and was critical to our success on our trip.
If you cannot find a Supercharger, you should find a place to plug in overnight. Most of the hotels on our trip had parking lot charging spots with CCS chargers that allow for the battery to be charged by up to 70%, but it takes 10 hours.
Charging stations are not as common as gasoline stations, making them more difficult to find. You require dedicated apps like ChargePoint or PlugShare to easily locate charging stations.
You Don’t Save Much Money on the Road, Even With Super-High Fuel Prices
Gas prices are very expensive in the US right now, but they usually cost even more than that in other countries.
The average cost to charge an electric Tesla is $9.38.
That’s cheaper than gas cars—but not by much. The gas cars cost $14.50 to $15.44 per 100 miles. Our Hyundai Ioniq hybrid ran $9.72 per 100 miles, even with current prices averaging $4.90 over its leg, thanks to its effective 50.5 mpg rating.