Why does an electric car go farther in the city than on the freeway? Because aerodynamic drag rises with the square of speed — and it dominates at highway pace.
EV Range & EfficiencyLive
why speed kills range
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An electric car's range is its battery divided by its energy use per kilometer. At low speed rolling resistance dominates; at highway speed aerodynamic drag — which grows with the square of speed — takes over, so consumption climbs steeply. That is why an EV goes much farther in the city than on the motorway, the opposite of a gasoline car.
Reading this result: Around 100 km/h drag is overtaking rolling resistance, so every extra 10 km/h now costs disproportionately more energy, holding range near 110 km.
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How it works
An EV's range is its usable battery divided by its consumption per kilometer. At low speed rolling resistance leads; at higher speed aerodynamic drag, growing with velocity squared, takes over and consumption climbs steeply. That is why EVs are most efficient around town and lose range fast on the motorway — the reverse of a gasoline car's behavior.
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