EPA: Yup, Tesla Model 3 Is Good for 300+ Miles

When the first generation Tesla Roadster hit the road, we weren’t entirely sure what to make of it. They basically took a Lotus and replaced the gas-burning bits with electric motors. Things changed with the Model S and the Model X, and now with the upcoming Semi and 2nd-gen Roadster. But really, the biggest game changer is going to be the Tesla Model 3.

Here’s an electric car for the masses, not just for the elite who spend over six figures on a vehicle. Yes, there are alternatives like the Chevy Bolt EV and the Nissan Leaf, but the Tesla badge has developed a certain sense of geek cred (and street cred, for that matter). Nonetheless, the biggest concern that most people have with EVs in general is range anxiety.

Well, now you can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has gone though its testing of the Tesla Model 3 and it has confirmed an effective range of 310 miles. That aligns with the purported specs on the long-range version of the car from earlier this summer. The 310 mile range is based on a combination of city and highway driving, simulating real world usage.

They’re saying that it works out to the equivalent of 131 miles per gallon (MPGe) in the city, 120 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent on the highway, and 126 MPGe combined. If you want to put all of this in perspective, the 2018 Nissan Leaf is expected to have 150 miles of EV range and the Chevy Bolt EV makes about 238 miles on a single charge.

As mentioned, if you want to achieve that 310 miles of range, you’ll need to pony up for the $44,000 long-range version of the Tesla Model 3. The cheaper $35,000 standard version “only” makes 220 miles of range… but production of the standard version won’t start until next year.

Even if you’re on the list for the long-range model, you could be chilling for a while. I have a few friends on that list and they say they’re not getting it until the end of next year if they’re lucky. So there’s that. But hey, good things come to those who wait, right?