But some battery packs are even larger. The Large battery pack in the Rivian R1T and R1S is 135 kWh, and the very large and very powerful GMC Hummer EV truck's battery pack is over 200 kWh. How much driving range do electric car batteries provide?
Like fuel tank sizes, electric car battery pack capacities vary depending on the vehicle. Small EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt EV usually have smaller capacities that range between 60 kWh and 75 kWh. However, there are some exceptions with short-range EVs that have lower capacities ranging between 30 kWh and 40 kWh.
EV batteries are referred to as packs because they typically consist of several battery modules that, in some cases, can contain hundreds of individual cylindrical battery cells that are the same shape as common AA and AAA batteries.
Up to several dozen modules can reside within a battery pack, which is the complete EV battery. 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.
All electric car batteries have a usable capacity that's slightly less than the total capacity because this helps extend the life of the battery pack since that buffer prevents it from ever being completely charged. For example, the BMW iX's battery pack has a total capacity of 111.5 kWh, but its usable capacity is 106.3 kWh.
Most automakers advertise the gross capacity. Like fuel tank sizes, electric car battery pack capacities vary depending on the vehicle. Small EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt EV typically have smaller capacities that range between 60 kWh and 75 kWh.