EV vs. Gas: Is 1,000 Miles LTS the Metric of the Future?
"What'll be the 0-60-mph stat of 2036?" That question was posed during multiple brainstorming sessions for the launch of our InEVitable project. My response was that having served us for a half-century, 0-60-mph will surely survive another 15 years. But its relevance is clearly fading. At one end, hypercars are bumping into the physical limits of tire traction in the barely sub-2.0-second realm, while the heart of the market has sort of decided that anything in the 6-to-8-second range is plenty quick enough for purchase consideration. Not surprisingly, that represents the average 0-60 time of every stock vehicle we've tested over the last five model years (6.2 seconds) plus one standard deviation (1.8 seconds). Autonomy will undoubtedly dull 0-60's luster even further. When anyone else is driving, folks prefer gentle launches. Of course, ubiquitous autonomy is way further out than 15 years.
So, what can we test or research and report that you might be more interested in over the next 15 years? We considered the current barriers preventing wider adoption of battery electric vehicles. Range and charging are the two biggies. Charging infrastructure is gradually improving across the country, but some 60 percent of Americans (and an even larger slice of our readership) can utilize a Level-2 charger at home or at work to meet their daily commuting needs. And with the 52 separate BEV models on the EPA's 2021 and 2022 data sheets averaging 266 miles of official range, we reckon our audience faces little or no legitimate "range anxiety" around town.
Longer trips are problematic. Most EVs run out of juice before their combustion counterparts and then take longer to "juice up." So we thought, let's come up with a number that tells folks how much longer it would it take to make a trip, of say, 1,000 miles (the farthest most folks would consider driving in a day). And we're optimistically assuming that within 15 years, the frustrations we experience today with inoperative or unavailable chargers, payment hassles, etc. will be relics of the past.
So we rounded up range and charging info for all 52 of those EPA-rated EVs along with similar info for a the top-selling combustion, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles to compute the difference in time it would take to cover 1,000 miles traveling 70 mph between stops (a legal, or at least prevalent and non-felonious speed on most interstate highways).
We assumed a fixed 10-minute time required for every vehicle to slow down, exit, enter a filling station, hook up, pay, stow everything, and return to traveling 70 mph. For combustion refueling we had drivers stopping with 5 percent of fuel remaining and a refueling flow rate of 10 gallons/minute. The combustion fleet averaged 14.7 hours to make the trip (68.4 mph). At the top were vehicles with either a high enough EPA highway rating or a large enough gas tank to require only one stop, resulting in a total trip time of 14.5 hours for an average speed of 69 mph. At the bottom sat the range-extended BMW i3, with a 2.4-gallon tank that would require 12 fuel stops, stretching the trip to 16.5 hours for a 60.7-mph average speed.
Then we computed travel times for every BEV the EPA has tested, using DC fast-charging information provided by manufacturers or measured by reputable third parties. These times generally represent charging from some minimum to 80 percent state of charge, above which the charging rate slows considerably. The savviest EVs come with navigation aids that optimize trip planning by suggesting charging locations that align with these suggested max/min battery charge levels.
Beyond two outliers, every EV needs between 15.3 hours (Lucid Air, 65.4 mph average) and 23.5 hours (Mini Cooper SE, 42.6 mph). That means driving a kilomile in that Lucid only takes 4 percent longer than in a combustion vehicle, whereas in the Mini you'll spend 60 percent longer on the road. The average of the DC fast-charge vehicles was 18.2 hours/55.5 mph, or 24 percent longer than the average combustion vehicle. Numbers that are sure to improve greatly over 15 more years of continuous progress in battery chemistry, EV powertrain efficiency, and charging speeds. Those outliers? The Chinese Kandi city car features a tiny battery and no DC fast-charging, so it would have to stop 19 times for a 7-hour charge each time, resulting in a 6.6-mph average speed. Road-trip torture. Similarly, a Nissan Leaf S lacking the $1,690 Quick Charge option would take 35 hours to make the trip, stopping five times for a four-hour charge, averaging 42.6 mph.
Will 1K LTS become the next 0-60? Doubtful. Might it better inform your perception of an electric vehicle's viability for road trips? Let us know at [email protected].
1,000-Mile Legal Trip Speed How long does it take to drive 1,000 miles traveling 70 mph between stops? EV Charging Time Information* Vehicle EPA hwy range (miles) DC fast-charge time, X-Y% charge (min) X (lower state of charge) Y (higher state of charge) Time to first stop, 100-X% (hours) Time between stops, Y-X% (hours) Number of stops required Total time at stops (min)** 1,000-mile trip time (hours) Average speed (mph) Percent longer than combustion vehicle*** Audi etron 221.9 30 5% 80% 3.0 2.4 5 40 17.6 56.8 20% Audi etron Sportback 221.5 30 5% 80% 3.0 2.4 5 40 17.6 56.8 20% BMW i3 136.4 34 0% 80% 1.9 1.6 8 44 20.2 49.6 37% BMW i3s 136.4 34 0% 80% 1.9 1.6 8 44 20.2 49.6 37% Chevrolet Bolt EUV 222.9 69 4% 80% 3.1 2.4 5 79 20.9 47.9 42% Chevrolet Bolt EV 235.1 69 4% 80% 3.2 2.6 5 79 20.9 47.9 42% Ford Mustang Mach-e AWD 193.7 36 20% 80% 2.2 1.7 8 46 20.4 49.0 39% Ford Mustang Mach-e AWD Ext Range 249.2 36 20% 80% 2.8 2.1 6 46 18.9 53.0 28% Ford Mustang Mach-e California 281.8 36 20% 80% 3.2 2.4 5 46 18.1 55.2 23% Ford Mustang Mach-e RWD 215.0 36 20% 80% 2.5 1.8 7 46 19.7 50.9 34% Ford Mustang Mach-e RWD Ext Range 277.1 36 20% 80% 3.2 2.4 5 46 18.1 55.2 23% Hyundai Ioniq 153.3 54 2% 80% 2.1 1.7 8 64 22.8 43.8 55% Hyundai Kona EV 226.0 47 10% 80% 2.9 2.3 6 57 20.0 50.0 36% Jaguar i-Pace EV400 221.0 40 2% 80% 3.1 2.5 5 50 18.5 54.2 26% Kandi K27 (Level 2 only) 51.6 420 2% 100% 0.7 0.7 19 430 150.5 6.6 923% Kia Niro Electric 213.6 60 2% 80% 3.0 2.4 5 70 20.1 49.7 37% Lucid Air Dream P (19" wheels) 471.0 20 15% 80% 5.7 4.4 2 30 15.3 65.4 4% Lucid Air Dream P (21" wheels) 451.0 20 15% 80% 5.5 4.2 3 30 15.8 63.3 7% Lucid Air Dream R (19" wheels) 520.0 20 15% 80% 6.3 4.8 2 30 15.3 65.4 4% Lucid Air Dream R (21" wheels) 481.0 20 15% 80% 5.8 4.5 2 30 15.3 65.4 4% Lucid Air Grand Touring (19" wheels) 516.0 20 15% 80% 6.3 4.8 2 30 15.3 65.4 4% Lucid Air Grand Touring (21" wheels) 469.0 20 15% 80% 5.7 4.4 2 30 15.3 65.4 4% Mini Cooper SE 101.9 36 2% 80% 1.4 1.1 12 46 23.5 42.6 60% Nissan Leaf (40 kWh) 131.3 40 5% 80% 1.8 1.4 9 50 21.8 45.9 48% Nissan Leaf (62 kWh) 202.2 60 5% 80% 2.7 2.2 6 70 21.3 47.0 45% Nissan Leaf (62 kWh, No Quick-Charge Option) 226.0 240 5% 80% 3.1 2.4 5 250 35.1 28.5 139% Nissan Leaf SV/SL (62 kWh) 192.5 60 5% 80% 2.6 2.1 6 70 21.3 47.0 45% Polestar 2 222.1 20 20% 80% 2.5 1.9 7 30 17.8 56.2 21% Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Battery 201.4 22.5 5% 80% 2.7 2.2 6 33 17.5 57.0 19% Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus 237.7 22.5 5% 80% 3.2 2.5 5 33 17.0 58.8 16% Porsche Taycan Performance Battery 210.7 22.5 5% 80% 2.9 2.3 6 33 17.5 57.0 19% Porsche Taycan Performance Battery Plus 239.8 22.5 5% 80% 3.3 2.6 5 33 17.0 58.8 16% Porsche Taycan Turbo 218.4 22.5 5% 80% 3.0 2.3 5 33 17.0 58.8 16% Porsche Taycan Turbo S 203.9 22.5 5% 80% 2.8 2.2 6 33 17.5 57.0 19% Rivian R1T 314.0 50 2% 80% 4.4 3.5 3 60 17.3 57.9 18% Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD 333.8 31 20% 80% 3.8 2.9 4 41 17.0 58.8 16% Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD 299.0 20 20% 80% 3.4 2.6 5 30 16.8 59.6 14% Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD 234.7 30 20% 80% 2.7 2.0 6 40 18.3 54.7 24% Tesla Model S Long Range 387.7 20 20% 80% 4.4 3.3 3 30 15.8 63.3 7% Tesla Model S Performance (19" Wheels) 373.2 30 20% 80% 4.3 3.2 4 40 17.0 59.0 15% Tesla Model S Performance (21" Wheels) 323.2 30 20% 80% 3.7 2.8 4 40 17.0 59.0 15% Tesla Model S Plaid (21" Wheels) 341.0 27 20% 80% 3.9 2.9 4 37 16.8 59.7 14% Tesla Model X Long Range Plus 356.3 30 20% 80% 4.1 3.1 4 40 17.0 59.0 15% Tesla Model X Performance (20" Wheels) 332.2 30 20% 80% 3.8 2.8 4 40 17.0 59.0 15% Tesla Model X Performance (22" Wheels) 289.0 30 20% 80% 3.3 2.5 5 40 17.6 56.8 20% Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD 305.5 30 20% 80% 3.5 2.6 5 40 17.6 56.8 20% Tesla Model Y Performance AWD 289.0 30 20% 80% 3.3 2.5 5 40 17.6 56.8 20% Tesla Model Y Standard Range Plus RWD 222.1 30 20% 80% 2.5 1.9 7 40 19.0 52.8 29% Volkswagen ID4 1st 230.2 38 5% 80% 3.1 2.5 5 48 18.3 54.7 24% Volkswagen ID4 Pro 237.1 38 5% 80% 3.2 2.5 5 48 18.3 54.7 24% Volkswagen ID4 Pro S 230.2 38 5% 80% 3.1 2.5 5 48 18.3 54.7 24% Volvo XC40 Recharge 188.0 40 20% 90% 2.1 1.9 7 50 20.1 49.7 37% *Charging time info taken from manufacturer data or test data reported by third parties. AVERAGE (excluding Level-2 vehicles) 18.2 55.5 24% **Includes time spent slowing, parking, charging, paying, accelerating back to 70 mph: 10 min ***The average of many combustion, HEV, and PHEV vehicles was 14.7 hours to travel 1,000 miles (68.4 mph). These charge times are were quoted from 0 percent, but our calculations involve pulling over at 2 percent. Trip time may be reduced by charging from 5 or 20 percent. Show AllYou may also like
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land-rover defender Full OverviewI don't know what it is about adulthood, but I've noticed that the older I get, the more weekends become a time for chores and projects and less about actually resting and recuperating for the upcoming week. It, to be frank, sucks. But every once in a while, the calendar is miraculously free and clear, and vehicles like MotorTrend's long-term 2021 Land Rover Defender 110 really help me make the most of those rare days. Faced with a free Saturday a few weeks back, my wife and I decided to load the pups up in the Defender and make a beach day out of it.Located smack dab in the middle of the Central California coast about 200 miles north of Los Angeles, Oceano Dunes is one of the few beaches in the state you can drive on without being in law enforcement or the military. Rex, our 8-year-old beagle dachshund mix, is a regular road warrior, but this four-hour stint would be the longest drive Rosie, our 11-month-old German shepherd mutt, had had since we scooped her up from a rescue in San Diego. All of four months old at the time and still traumatized from her stint living in a dumpster on the other side of the border, Rosie's first ride with us was marked by her utter refusal to get into the car in the first place and her attempt to bail out on the way back to Los Angeles near the Orange County line.Despite that rocky start, Rosie quickly made herself at home in the back of the Land Rover. With a massive greenhouse and spacious back seat, she spent the first hour of the trip window surfing before settling into a nap, while all 25 pounds of Rex made himself comfortable sleeping on top of the Defender's jump seat. Up front, my wife and I cranked up the stereo and took advantage of the now-wireless Apple CarPlay capability; the Defender's cabin, already noisy due to the gear carrier and expedition roof rack, had only gotten louder since we fit the roof ladder and onboard air compressor. Looking cool has its costs.We arrived at the beach just past sunrise and slotted ourselves into the long line of pickups, Jeeps, Subarus, and the odd minivan or two. Thinking back to when I beached a Rivian R1T at the tail end of our Trans-America Trail expedition a year back, I made sure to ask about the conditions out on the beach. "You'll be fine," the park ranger said while looking over our Defender's snorkel and all-terrains. "Not so sure about them, though," as she gestured toward the Toyota Sienna in line behind me.Reassured, I pulled past the gate into the parking lot to air the Defender's tires down while my wife attempted to keep the increasingly impatient pups focused on treats instead of the exciting ocean smell, distant crashing waves, and legions of beachgoers in 4x4s around us. I normally avoid airing down unless it's absolutely necessary (I'm lazy; sue me), but the Land Rover's relatively high 47/50 psi front/rear recommended air pressure coupled with how easy the Defender's new onboard air compressor is to operate was motivation enough. I quickly connected the air compressor to each wheel, twisted the dial to drop the pressure to 35 psi, and let it painlessly deflate each tire. After quick confirmation of dropped pressures on the digital dash, we lowered the rear windows to allow the dogs to take their waist gunner positions and hit the sand.One of the things I love most about driving the Defender is how seamlessly the "Auto" Terrain Response 2 mode and full-time four-wheel-drive system transitions between different surfaces, and that proved to be the case here on the beach. The sand at Oceano Dunes varies greatly—it's soft, silty, and almost desertlike up near the dunes, gets harder, firmer, and rutted toward the middle of the beach, and it's soft and wet (duh) down by the waterline. No matter where we were on the beach as we explored looking for a good spot, the Defender was faultless. In the few soft sections where the Land Rover started to sink, all it needed was a little extra throttle while four-wheel drive and terrain response sorted things out. It's quite literally off-roading for dummies.After exploring for a bit and putting the Defender through its paces, we finally found a secluded spot and made it our base camp for the day. Rosie had never been to the beach before, and she initially looked unsure of the sand between her toes and the loud ocean waves. But after watching Rex howl into the wind, dig after sand crabs, and chase the receding waves, she quickly got the hang of the beach, running up and down the dunes, helping dig, and splashing after seagulls in the ocean. Meanwhile, my wife and I made ourselves at home picnicking out of the Defender's cargo area and reading on the front bench.After a few hours hanging out and playing with the pups, we made our way back to the park entrance, aired up, and pointed the Defender's nose back south toward home. While Sunday would no doubt be filled with all the responsibilities we shirked, we were thankful for that one brief respite—all made possible by our Defender's baked in capability.Looks good! More details?For more on our Land Rover Defender:Our 2021 SUV of the Year joins us for a yearlong testBetter than any pickup truckSo, about that break-in period…A rooftop tent just looks so right on the Defender 110Accessorizing our Land Rover Defender
Aircraft fabricator Hawley Bowlus completed construction of the first Bowlus travel trailer in 1934 for the purpose of transporting flight crews to isolated takeoff locations. It's touted as the first aluminum riveted travel trailer in the world, even pre-dating Wally Byam's Airstream. Now the trailer is back with a tasteful modern update.Bowlus reports that "over half of the original Bowlus' built in the 1930s are still around today, often held in private collections." The lightweight 1,100-pound Bowlus was revolutionary for its time, attracting celebrity and media attention. In 2011, a 1935 Bowlus Road Chief sold at an auction in Scottsdale for $187,000. Fast-forward 90 years, and the Bowlus brand continues.The company currently sells three models: Terra Firma, Endless Highways Performance Edition, and Endless Highways Edition. They start—repeat, start—at $265,000, $240,000, and $215,000, respectively. Let's just say, if you're strapped for cash—or anything short of ridiculously, lavishly, richly well-off with a suitcase full of bands—the bespoke Bowlus may not be for you. But we can still dream, right?The trailers have avoided a fundamental technological overhaul for decades, but Bowlus has announced a few interior, exterior, and technology updates for its 2022-model-year luxury travel trailers. The kitchen has been redesigned with soft-close drawers, an improved air conditioning system, a "60-Second Hitch" towing connection assistance system, an integrated Bluetooth Smart Brake, and updated 13-diode LED taillights to clean up the look.In all of our travels around the United States, we've encountered a smorgasbord of travel trailers, massive toy haulers, million-dollar RVs, high-end off-grid teardrop trailers, and overland camper vans at campgrounds, on the road, and off-grid. But we've never, ever encountered a Bowlus. But when we do someday come upon one, at least now we know how to differentiate a 2022 model. Now that's a morsel of knowledge that'll surely impress new campfire friends.
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