A range figure is a starting point, not a promise for every road. The useful number is how comfortably a car covers your journeys with a sensible reserve.

By SafiVolt · Published 2 September 2026

In this guide

• Ask what the advertised number measures

• Why your journey changes the result

• Turn energy use into a planning estimate

• Plan the ordinary week and the unusual trip

• Look after the battery without one-size-fits-all rules

• Choose enough range for your life

Ask what the advertised number measures

Before comparing two cars, ask for the exact variant, usable battery capacity where available, and the test cycle attached to the quoted range. Keep figures from the same testing method together. If the listings use different methods, ask for a like-for-like comparison instead of declaring the bigger number the winner.

Be especially careful with plug-in hybrids: a combined battery-and-fuel range is not an electric-only figure. Ask for both, clearly labelled. This one check can prevent a very misleading comparison with a fully electric vehicle.

Why your journey changes the result

Speed, rapid acceleration, climbing, heavy loads and heating or cooling can all affect energy consumption. The Department of Energy’s all-electric vehicle guide explains why range varies with driving conditions. A quiet urban test and a loaded highway journey are not equivalent tests of a car.

For your own shortlist, describe the journey you actually expect: passengers, luggage, road type, driving pace and stops. If you regularly travel beyond Nairobi, ask about a representative trip rather than relying only on a city test drive. Record whether the quoted experience used air conditioning and what battery percentage remained at arrival.

Turn energy use into a planning estimate

You can make a simple comparison using energy available for the journey and expected consumption:

A 60 kWh usable battery, starting at 90% and keeping 20% in reserve, gives a 70-percentage-point window. That is 60 × 0.70 = 42 kWh. At an assumed 18 kWh per 100 km, the calculation is 42 ÷ 18 × 100 = about 233 km.

These are invented example inputs, not a specification for a SafiVolt car or a guaranteed route distance. A different battery, consumption figure or reserve changes the answer. The example also assumes the stated usable capacity is available; it is not a battery-health test.

Use a conservative planning estimate until you have measured the car on comparable journeys. Do not use an optimistic calculation to justify reaching a charger at an almost empty state of charge.

Plan the ordinary week and the unusual trip

Start with the journey you repeat most often. Check whether the car can complete it comfortably and whether your normal parking time allows you to recharge. Then separately plan your longest recurring trip. This keeps an occasional journey from dominating every part of the purchase decision without ignoring it.

For a road trip, identify compatible chargers, confirm access and arrange a fallback. Think about the whole stop: a detour, queue or closed gate can matter as much as charging power. If the plan depends on a single unverified charger, resolve that uncertainty before setting off.

Look after the battery without one-size-fits-all rules

Charging habits, climate and battery design can influence battery life. The DOE’s battery-life discussion is a useful introduction, but it cannot tell you the remaining life of an individual car.

Follow the exact vehicle’s handbook for everyday charging, occasional full charges and storage. Do not apply a universal “always charge to 80%” rule to every battery chemistry and model. Ask the supplier to provide the relevant instructions and explain any manufacturer-recommended routines.

For a used car, request a diagnostic assessment and service history. A displayed distance-to-empty number on a fully charged dashboard is not a substitute for an inspection. Our used EV checklist explains what evidence to ask for.

Choose enough range for your life

Compare range alongside price, cabin space, charging compatibility and support. A bigger battery is useful when it solves a real journey problem, but it does not replace a charging plan.

When browsing SafiVolt’s electric cars , send us your typical daily distance and longest regular route. Those details make a model discussion much more useful than asking only which car has the highest headline range.

General educational information from SafiVolt. Technical sources are linked in the article. Model specifications, battery condition, charging access, costs and support must be confirmed for your own circumstances; this guide does not replace professional inspection or installation advice.

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