1. Usable battery window
The tool starts with the vehicle’s realistic 100% range, then narrows it to the percentage window between your starting battery and your desired arrival reserve. That creates the first “safe reach” number.
ChargeWindow methodology
How ChargeWindow builds the plan
ChargeWindow combines a simple usable-range estimate with posture scoring. The goal is not perfect navigation. The goal is to decide whether this trip should feel calm enough to go direct, rely on one fast charger, add more buffer, or stop pretending the day is simple.
2. Drag factors
Weather drag, route speed, and terrain each apply a penalty multiplier. Cold, rain, high-speed motorway driving, and mountain climbing all shrink the safe reach before any charger choices are scored.
3. Charger realism
Charger spacing and charger confidence then influence whether one-stop planning still looks sensible. Dense, trusted chargers make one-stop planning more viable. Sparse or dubious chargers push the tool toward extra buffer.
4. Human pressure
Passenger pressure, time flexibility, and reserve style matter because people often make worse charging decisions under time stress or when the whole car is impatient. ChargeWindow intentionally bakes those pressures into the result.
5. Posture ranking
- Go direct with reserve rises when the safe reach comfortably covers the trip and the user accepts a leaner but still protected buffer.
- One decisive fast-charge stop rises when one planned charge should close the gap without needing a messy second rescue stop.
- Two shorter buffer stops rises when the trip is longer, conditions are harsher, or the user wants more cushion than one-stop planning deserves.
- Split the day / overnight buffer rises when the trip-to-buffer gap is too large or the charger situation is too shaky for a calm one-day run.