How does passenger and cargo load affect an EV’s range?

Q: How does passenger and cargo load affect an EV’s range?

Extra load can impact efficiency and range. Effects Acceleration: More mass requires more energy to move. Hills: Climbing uses more power in heavier vehicles. Regen Braking: Heavier loads can recover more energy, partially offsetting loss. Real-World Impact A few extra passengers may only reduce range by 1–5%, but a fully loaded EV can lose 10–20% range depending on conditions.

Question

Accepted Answer

Extra load can impact efficiency and range.

Effects

Acceleration: More mass requires more energy to move.
Hills: Climbing uses more power in heavier vehicles.
Regen Braking: Heavier loads can recover more energy, partially offsetting loss.

Real-World Impact

A few extra passengers may only reduce range by 1–5%, but a fully loaded EV can lose 10–20% range depending on conditions.