Get Batteries Add Size, Weight, And Inconvenience

Larger batteries mean higher costs, which could be a barrier for many people looking to buy an EV. Bigger batteries also mean heavier vehicles, which reduces efficiency and can lead to slower acceleration and poorer handling.

EV cells may be small cylindrical cells, like a AA or AAA cell, of various standardized dimensions. This is the approach Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and some other automakers take, wiring together thousands of these small cells. The advantage, these companies claim, is that small cells are far cheaper to produce in volume.

Unlike a gas car, where the heat is free, coming from the engine, an EV has to produce cabin heat and manage an optimal battery temperature with energy that comes from the battery, in turn reducing range.

That's not possible for most EVs on the market. That's because the “upgrade” is a change in hardware, not just software. Teslas are a bit of a different story, however. Many of that carmaker's battery packs are one size, so owners can pay for a more robust battery if they choose.

Since the fuse panel protects your car's electrical systems from power surges and spikes, using a larger battery can cause current fluctuations. And this can damage the regulator on the alternator which then increases the chances of the stereo system, and other electronics getting damaged.

Most electric cars you can buy today have a range from 200 miles to over 500 (520 for the Lucid Air). That is quite a range, so it would be best to simply look up the specs on the particular car you're looking at. But yes, there are cars that achieve what gas cars can on a single charge.