Make your actual use visible.
Write down a normal week: distance, parking, occupants, luggage and the journeys that cannot easily move. Add the less typical day that would be difficult to replace. Compare a real model against that brief, including local specification, usable battery capacity, charging connection and service support.
Use comparable evidence.
A stated range is produced under a named test cycle. Compare the same testing method, and treat it as a comparison reference rather than a promise for your journey. Check towing, roof loads and payload separately. The Range & Stops tool lets you test a supplied consumption allowance and reserve without pretending to locate a charger.
Sources: AU01 · US03. Accessed 8 November 2026.
Keep ownership in the picture.
Bring purchase and resale assumptions, an achievable charging mix and your own insurance and service figures into the same cost boundary. A low electricity rate means little if that charging location is rarely available to you.