Geotab has analysed over 3,000,000 anonymised electric vehicle trips to see how speed and temperature affect EV energy use. The results show that higher speeds have a far greater impact on range than air conditioning being used in hot weather
At 30°C, a 65kWh electric van cruising at 50mph can typically travel 143 miles. But at 60mph, range drops to 121 miles, then 103 miles at 70mph and just 88 miles at 80mph – a 39% loss.
Saloon cars, being more aerodynamic, perform slightly better: at 50mph, range is 277 miles, but falls to 200 miles at 80mph, a 28% drop.
Geotab says drag is the biggest energy drain at high speeds. “Your right foot has a bigger effect than the aircon,” said Charlotte Argue, sustainability lead at Geotab. “Dropping speed by 10–15mph can boost range by 20 to 30%.”
At lower speeds, aircon use is more noticeable – but at higher speeds, it’s overshadowed by drag. Geotab recommends slowing down, preconditioning cabins, using A/C efficiently, avoiding harsh driving and parking in the shade.
The analysis was based on real-world data from 2500 EVs, and over 550,000 driving hours.
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