Short answer: The distance your car's dashboard predicts you can drive on the remaining battery charge, based on recent driving patterns.
Explanation
The range estimate is the number shown on your car's dashboard or app that predicts how many kilometers you can drive before the battery is empty. It is calculated based on your current state of charge and your recent driving efficiency. If you have been driving efficiently, the estimate is higher. If you have been driving fast on the highway with heating on full, it drops.
Range estimates are exactly that: estimates. They can change significantly based on speed, temperature, terrain, climate control use, and passenger/cargo weight. A car rated at 450 km WLTP range might show 500 km after gentle city driving or 280 km after sustained motorway driving in winter. This variability catches new EV drivers off guard.
The best approach is to treat the range estimate as a rough guide, not a precise countdown. For trip planning, use your car's energy consumption in Wh/km and your battery's usable capacity for a more accurate calculation. And always plan to arrive at a charger with at least 10-15% remaining, not 0%.
Where you'll see this
- On your car dashboard
- In charging network apps
Common confusion
New EV drivers often panic when the range estimate drops faster than expected. The estimate is based on recent driving style. Drive gently and it climbs. Drive aggressively and it drops. It is a prediction, not a guarantee.
Example
A Polestar 2 showing 400 km range estimate at home might show only 280 km after 30 minutes of motorway driving at 130 km/h in winter. Both numbers are correct for those conditions.
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