A modern 8-10 speed automatic transmission can easily put the engine at or near the ideal consumption RPM whether it's 30 mph or 80 mph.
If we really cared about efficiency, we'd have smaller motors. Throttling decreases efficiency, so the best mileage is going to be cruising at WOT (naively assuming no fuel mixture enrichment, which isn't always true). A classic example of this strategy is an old Geo Metro. Light, tiny motor, and barely capable of maintaining highway speed using peak horsepower.
Right, I think what sometimes gets discounted with EVs is .. they are really easy to make a no-compromise vehicle compared to ICE. You can make an ICE fast, but you'll pay for that at the pump.
You can make an EV that is as fast as a Porsche but highway cruises like a Prius.
It's up to the idiot behind the wheel if they prefer to go fast or go far.
I remember in high school my "fast for a regular car" Pontiac did 0-60 in about 7sec.
This is achievable in a Nissan Leaf or Chevy Bolt now. The most low price, vanilla and dated tech in EVs you can buy.
EV buyers will quibble about 0-60s in the 4 second range that aren't even sold as "performance". You used to have to buy a BMW of M designation to achieve these types of numbers in a 4 door sedan, and get the horrible MPG along with it.
The chunky hatchback crossover MachE GT Mustang EV is faster than an ICE Mustang Mach 1 which gets a mid-teens MPG..
If we really cared about efficiency, we'd have smaller motors. Throttling decreases efficiency, so the best mileage is going to be cruising at WOT (naively assuming no fuel mixture enrichment, which isn't always true). A classic example of this strategy is an old Geo Metro. Light, tiny motor, and barely capable of maintaining highway speed using peak horsepower.