The 31 electric cars with the biggest batteries

Once upon a time it was the done thing to boast about the amount of horsepower your car had - but these days, bragging rights can extend to the size of the battery.

Battery size is a critical part of an electric car, in part because it plays a hugely significant role in determining its price (the battery is now the most expensive component of any vehicle) and in part because it plays a huge role in determining how far it can travel (weight, systems efficiency and aerodynamics are among others)

Here then are the cars with the biggest usable battery capacities (as opposed to total). All are on sale today, or coming soon, and where a vehicle has multiple variants we have only highlighted a single model.

31. Mercedes-Benz EQE

It’s impressive that a semi-regular (if large) family saloon should kick-off this countdown, showcasing that the biggest batteries are starting to be available on some of the more mainstream cars. It’s rated at up to 394 miles of range, but you’re likely to need to stop for the toilet (and a top up) long before it runs out.

30. Ford Mustang Mach-E - 91kWh

You’ll need to order the most efficient Extended Range RWD (rear-wheel drive) model to get the absolute maximum efficiency out of Ford’s 21st century Pony car, but if you spec wisely it’ll be good for an impressive rating of up to 305 miles.

28=. Nio ET5 - 92kWh

This Chinese mid-size saloon is aimed firmly at the Tesla Model 3. Fact fans will like to know it is rated with up to 435 miles of range, but really geeky fact fans can also quote the fact its 1.28m squared all-glass roof resists 99.9% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.

28=. Nio EL7 - 92kWh

It may only just sneak into the top 30 now, but if reports are to be believed the EL7, a rival for the Audi e-tron, will be jumping up the order soon, when a 150kWh version is released. Known as the ES7 in China, today’s high-range model is rated at 319 miles of range - the new one at an incredible 466.

27. Xpeng G9 - 93kWh

The Long Range model benefits from a different, nickel-rich battery chemistry to the standard car, giving it an impressive 354 miles of range. Add in all-wheel drive too and it’s good for 0-62mph in 3.9sec (down from 6.4sec in rear-drive models).

25=. Tesla Model X - 95kWh

It’s no surprise that two cars from the same maker should have the same sized battery pack given the industry’s preoccupation with sharing parts and complexity. Despite being heavier and less aerodynamic, the X still claims a maximum range of 348 miles (over the S’s 405).

25=. Tesla Model S - 95kWh

Arguably, the car that put Tesla on the map more so than the Roadster. It took on the established competition and won, demonstrating to the world that premium luxury buyers were willing to buy into electric propulsion if the brand image met the hype.

24. Kia EV9 - 99.8kWh

It’s hard not to refer to the 336-mile per charge EV9 as Kia’s Range Rover, such is the scale and luxury it seemingly offers; but that shorthand is severely undermined by the fact that the Korean marque has beaten the British one to launching an EV. 

23. Nio ES8 - 100 kWh

Crazy fact: Nio was only founded in 2014, yet today it is valued as being worth more than BMW. The ES8 is one reason why - of four cars currently in its line-up -  delivering a highly credible 311 miles of range on top of a host of other top-notch credentials. 

22. Fisker Ocean - 100kWh

The range-topping Extreme model claims a whopping 440 miles from a full charge - putting rivals such as the Tesla Model X and even Mercedes-Benz EQS firmly in the shade. Weight, aerodynamics, wheel size and powertrain efficiency take the credit. 

21. Cadillac Lyriq - 100.4 kWh

At 2585kg the Lyriq is anything but svelte, but thanks to its large usable battery capacity it is rated as being good for 308 miles between charges. That’s pretty impressive, as is the fact its 335bhp and 325lb ft can haul all that weight from 0-62mph in 6.1sec.

20. BMW i7 - 101.7 kWh

At its most efficient - which means selecting the right wheel size, the eco-driving mode and using the throttle with the subtlety of a ballet dancer - the BMW i7 is rated as being able to cover up to 388 miles on a charge from its battery.

19. Lordstown Endurance - 104 kWh

You’ll see a few North American pick-ups in our list, but this one is from the less well known but still impressive Lordstown Motors, who produce it in conjunction with Foxconn in Ohio. Only around 1000 are expected to be made a year, but it’s struggle for sales evidently has nothing to do with its usable battery capacity.
 

18. BMW iX - 105.2 kWh

Go large on the spec sheet BMW’s halo electric car will deliver huge power, huge torque and - provided you don’t unleash either of those things - up to 392 miles of range thanks to its considerable usable battery capacity. 

16=. Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance - 106 kWh

A variation on a theme set by the Lucid Air you’ll read about later, you might argue, but we’re ranking it as different enough to warrant inclusion in our list. It’s powered by dual electric motors and good for 1035bhp, a 0-62mph sprint of 2.6sec and up to a rated 446 miles of range.

16=. Audi Q8 e-tron - 106 kWh

Once known simply as the Audi e-tron, this car - Audi’s first bespoke, full-electric vehicle - is now available with extra lettering on its rear end so that it can be distinguished more easily from other models being launched by the brand. Range is rated at up to 330 miles. 

14=. Volvo EX90 - 107 kWh

Set to launch in early 2024, the EX90 is Volvo’s interpretation of the large, electric SUV of the future. It’s sheer size helps it use a battery pack that is good for a rated range of up to 364 miles, boosted by an incredible, slippery drag coefficient of 0.29Cd.

14= Polestar 3 - 107 kWh

This BMW iX and Jaguar I-Pace rival wins out in terms of usable battery capacity in Long Range form. That means up to 379 miles of range despite its potent 483bhp and 618lb ft of torque - although, as with all electric cars, using too much of the latter will inevitably reduce the former by a considerable margin.

13. Lotus Eletre - 108kWh

A car that poses the question of what a brand’s flagship now is in this modern, mixed-up world, the range-topping Eletre SUV delivers 893bhp and 726lb ft of torque and can drag the SUV from 0-62mph in just 2.95sec. It’s no sports car, but it’s certainly impressive.

12. Mercedes-Benz EQS - 108.4kWh

Following the theme of the Lotus, it’s debatable these days whether an ‘S’ badged saloon or SUV is the halo model - or, indeed, whether it is the petrol or electric version that sits atop the tree. Certainly the EQS has plenty of qualities to set it apart - including, of course, its ginormous battery capacity.
 

11. Rolls-Royce Spectre - 110kWh

So far only driven in prototype form, the Spectre is a spiritual successor to the Phantom Coupe, albeit with a V12 replaced by electric motors, co-developed by BMW and good for 577bhp and 664lb ft, and an estimated wafting range of 320 miles.

10. Lucid Air - 112kWh

1111bhp and 1025lb ft tell their own story about the striking Lucid Air’s performance capabilities - but unleashing all of that asphalt-eating performance would soon drain any normal battery. Less so on this big batteried top-end version.

8=. Rimac Nevera - 120kWh

A showpiece to show off what the company is capable of, the Nevera is the latest and greatest creation from Croatian electric car pioneers Rimac, who not only do consultancy for almost every car maker, but who also now run Bugatti.

8= Pininfarina Battista - 120kWh

Created by famed Italian styling and technical experts Automobili Pininfarina, the Battista is the company’s showpiece of what it is capable of. The drop-dead gorgeous sports car is named after the company’s founder, and holds acceleration records for 0-62mph and standing quarter and half miles. The machine is also based on technology developed by Rimac, hence the identical battery size.

7. Vinfast VF9 - 123kWh

Another vehicle sold with a variety of battery sizes, the biggest of which gives the car, co-developed by the Vietnamese manufacturer with famed Italian styling and technical experts - you guessed it - Pininfarina, a rated range of up to 369 miles. 

6. Ford F-150 Lightning - 131kWh

The so-called Extended Range model lives up to its name thanks to its larger battery pack - albeit it is left in the shadow of rivals pick-ups from Hummer and Rivian (which we’ll get to shortly). Despite the pick-up’s heft, the battery means it’s good for 320 miles of rated range.

5. Nio ET7 - 140kWh

A sleek coupé in the mould of the Tesla Model S, the ET7 heralds a new wave of expansion for Chinese car maker Nio. Unlike the pick-ups above, it’s relatively efficient in its use of the energy too - and consequently has a range rated at up to 438 miles.

4. Rivian R1T - 170kWh

What better way to break the stranglehold of established car makers than to launch a pick-up that offers (almost) more of everything. Peak performance includes 824bhp of power and 908lb ft of torque. No wonder it needs a big battery!

3. Tesla Roadster - 200kWh

We say this car is coming soon… but have to acknowledge that it has been coming soon since it was first teased in 2012. Since then the rumour mill has been up and down, as well as stoked by Elon Musk saying the second-generation Roadster will launch in 2023. No sign yet, though.

2. GMC Hummer EV pickup - 212kWh

Stopping the scales at 4111kg, there’s not much about the GMC Hummer EV that’s small. Little wonder that it needs a big battery: its tri-motor powertrain will soon eat its way through energy, producing 1000bhp and 11,500lb ft of torque. Of note, the battery itself weighs a whopping 1325kg.

1. Ram 1500 REV

Recently revealed ahead of a launch in 2025, the Ram 1500 REV – that's Revolution Electric Vehicle to you – will be offered as standard with a hefty 168kWh battery. But if that's something not enough, you'll be able to select an optional 229kWh battery pack, which provably contains enough energy to power a small town for a few days. Or, when fitted in a massive pick-up, gives the 1500 REV a huge range of 500 miles. Although, as ever, you won't get all that range if you use the 654bhp powertrain in anger.