EV's are more different from one another than you would typically expect. Lots of research is needed and considerations made for your specific situation.
Range is the obvious one. Always over estimate what you need as there are numerous things that bring real world range down from the EPA numbers. (Brand, Climate, Safety buffers, highway speed)
Notably Tesla's performance trims underperform their EPA range while the Porsche Taycan massively overperforms.
Does the car have a heat pump? Important for efficiency in colder climates. Cars without one with lose more range in colder temperatures because they take more energy to heat the battery/cabin with resistive heaters.
| Heat Pump? | Car |
|---|---|
| Yes | Tesla |
| Sometimes | Polestar2, EV6, Ioniq5, ID.4 |
| No | Bolt, MachE |
Is there an app with useful features? (Charge scheduling, remote preheating the car, phone key, etc.) Are these features locked behind a subscription?
e.g. Tesla App is free while Kia Connect locks useful features behind a subscription
Does the car precondition en-route to fast chargers? Preconditioning the battery brings it to optimal temps for changing before arriving at a charger. This can speed up your initial charging rates.
Most new EVs do this nowadays. Notable exception: Mach-E
Entertainment: Nearly all EVs will have compatibility with Android Auto or Apple Carplay.
The two exceptions are Tesla and Rivian. Tesla has put in a lot of hardware to create a smooth experience, but many of the features are behind a subscription service.
Battery Chemistry: Every manufacturer has a different secret sauce here, but most behave similarly and proper care is about the same. The exception is LFP which has notably different properties and trade-offs. Typically fewer kWh because the physical battery is less dense, not harmed as much charging to 100%, greater range loss in colder temperatures.
The Tesla Model 3 uses LFP. Mostly others do not. (At least in the U.S. market)
Battery charge speed: One of the most important aspects for road tripping is how quickly your car will charge at a fast charger when your car runs out of range. Charging curves are the best indication of this, but they're hard to come by. Many manufacturers provide numbers for "Peak kW". I'd aim for 150kW or above if you're planning on making trips semi-frequently. Typically vehicles with larger batteries charge at faster speeds(kW). Some manufacturers also use 800v rather than 400v batteries and benefit when using a compatible 800v fast charger. (Hyundai/Kia)
e.g. GM Bolt 55kW, Polestar 2 155kW, Tesla Model 3 RWD 170kW,