Your trip
Every result on this page updates live as you change an input.
Average power, not peak — charging tapers as the battery fills.
Cold cuts range: about 20% loss near freezing (32°F), up to about 41% at 20°F with cabin heat.
Faster driving uses more energy per mile, so it shortens each leg.
Default 53¢ is a typical US DC fast-charging price. Home charging is usually much cheaper.
Your plan
2 stops · 48 min charging · $62 en route.
Assumptions: arrive at each charger at 10%, charge to 85% (the fast part of the curve), and keep a backup charger in mind for every leg. En-route cost counts only the DC charging on the road — the charge you start with is not counted.
Worked example: 600 miles in a Model Y
2 stops, 48 minutes of charging, $62. That is the result at the defaults on this page — no special case, just the planner doing the maths.
Inputs: 600 miles · Tesla Model Y Long Range (78 kWh usable, 3.9 mi/kWh) · 70°F · 65 mph · start at 100% · 53¢/kWh DC fast charging.
How it works out: at 65 mph the effective efficiency is about 3.68 mi/kWh, so a full charge gives about 287 miles. The first leg runs 100% down to 10% — about 258 miles. Each stop then adds 58.5 kWh (10% → 85%), which takes about 24 minutes at an average of 145 kW and costs about $31. Two such stops cover the trip, and you arrive with about 41% left.
Try it: press “Try the worked example” above — or just load the page, because these are the defaults. Change any input and the stops, time and cost update live.
How the planner works
It simulates the trip leg by leg, the way you actually drive it. First it adjusts your efficiency for temperature and speed, then it works out how far one charge really goes, then it drives until the battery reaches a 10% reserve, charges to 85%, and repeats until you arrive.
Temperature: range is full at 65°F and above, about 20% lower near freezing (32°F), and up to about 41% lower at 20°F with cabin heat on. Between those points the loss is interpolated, so 45°F costs you less than 25°F does.
Speed: aerodynamic drag grows with speed, so efficiency falls as your average speed rises. Driving at 80 mph instead of 65 mph shortens every leg and adds stops on a long trip.
Charging: each stop is priced and timed from the energy actually added (10% → 85% of your battery) at your car’s average DC charging power — the average, not the peak, because charging tapers as the battery fills. That is why charging speed matters more than range: see the FAQ below.
Frequently asked questions
How many charging stops does a 600-mile trip in a Tesla Model Y need?
2 stops, 48 minutes of charging, and $62 of en-route DC fast charging. That is the result at this page’s defaults: 600 miles, Model Y Long Range (78 kWh, 3.9 mi/kWh), 70°F, 65 mph, starting at 100%, and 53¢/kWh. The plan charges from 10% to 85% at each stop.
Why does charging speed matter more than range on a road trip?
Because total trip time is driven by how fast you can add miles, not by how far one charge goes. A car with 250 miles of range that charges at 170 kW average can finish a 600-mile trip faster than a 350-mile-range car that charges at 50 kW, because the slower car spends far longer at every stop. Range only decides how often you stop; charging speed decides how long every stop lasts. Try it here: switch from the Ioniq 5 to the Bolt EUV and watch the charging time jump, even though their ranges are not far apart.
Should I keep a backup charger in mind?
Yes — always keep a backup charger in mind. Your planned charger can be busy, broken, or slower than advertised, so before each leg check the next charger after your planned stop and arrive with enough range — at least 10% — to reach it. On rural stretches, that backup may be the difference between a short detour and a tow.
How much does cold weather reduce EV range?
About 20% near freezing (32°F), and up to about 41% at 20°F with cabin heat on. This planner applies that loss to your efficiency, so a cold trip shows more stops, longer charging, and higher cost than the same trip at 70°F. Preconditioning the battery while plugged in and using seat heaters instead of full cabin heat can soften the loss.
What state of charge should I charge to on a road trip?
Charge from about 10% to about 85% at each stop. DC fast charging is fastest in that window and slows sharply above 80–85%, so charging to 100% usually adds more waiting than driving range. This planner uses a 10% arrival reserve and an 85% charge target for every stop.
How much does an EV road trip cost?
It depends on distance, efficiency, and electricity price — at 53¢/kWh for DC fast charging, a 600-mile trip in a Model Y costs about $62 for en-route charging. Charging at home before you leave is usually much cheaper, so the starting charge is not counted in that figure. Use the price input above to test your local fast-charging rate.