According to the study, electric car manufacturers advertise with exaggerated ranges

Electric car makers are using exaggerated ranges because official tests don’t reflect real life, a study has found.

More than 70 electric vehicles have been independently tested by consumer champions which? showed that real-world ranges were, on average, nearly 20 percent lower than advertised by automakers.

Tests also found that electric car batteries require about 15 percent more energy than advertised to fully charge – resulting in higher running costs.

The UK’s most popular electric vehicle, the Tesla Model Y, reportedly had a real-world range of 100 miles less than advertised and the Nissan Leaf lost more than 50 miles compared to what was advertised.

Drivers considering whether or not to buy an electric car should be “skeptical” of advertised range and ensure they do “rigorous” research before making a pricey purchase. Which? called.

That comes as the government announced this week that more than a fifth of new car sales next year will be electric cars – with a ban on new petrol and diesel cars set to come into effect in 2030. Around a sixth of new car sales are currently electric.

The result could leave EV drivers “disappointed with the distance they can realistically travel on a single charge.” said sustainability editor Emily Seymour, reports The Times.

Electric car manufacturers have been using a laboratory test called the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) to determine ranges since 2017, in accordance with EU law. This was introduced after the previous testing regime was accused of exaggerating the fuel efficiency of fossil fuel cars.

The WLTP gives more accurate results for petrol and diesel cars, but as a “strong tendency” to exaggerate the efficiency and range of electric vehicles. Which? claim. And they say their own tests provide a more realistic estimate.

Electric vehicles often have shorter ranges on freeways and highways because they use more energy to drive at higher speeds – and also recover less energy when braking.

for what? Larger EVs had the worst real-world range compared to what was advertised — over 50 miles short on average. This could mean drivers on long journeys could be left significantly out of pocket if they need to charge during a trip within the advertised range that they can’t complete due to the higher cost of forecourt chargers compared to domestic ones.

Britain’s most popular electric car, the Tesla Model Y, has one of the biggest gaps between its advertised range of 331 miles and its real-world range of just 231 miles, 100 miles less, according to which?

The Nissan Leaf is advertised as having a range of “up to 239 miles” – although the manufacturer says this “doesn’t refer to any specific individual vehicle”. Which? Research found a maximum range of just 187 miles.

The Electric Vehicle Association’s James Court told the Times that there are big cars that are more efficient, but some lose range in colder conditions.

Nissan told the newspaper: “WLTP testing is mandatory and the only universal range figure given by all manufacturers. It is used by consumers to compare the range of different models. We have an easily accessible real world range calculator on our website that allows customers to adjust parameters to display accurate and realistic range figures based on their individual circumstances.’

Tesla has not commented to The Times but has previously denied independent testing, saying fair comparisons can only be made under laboratory conditions.

Mike Hawes of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders told the newspaper: “Manufacturers are required by law to test all vehicles to the same, repeatable official standard – the WLTP test. This test is regulated by government agencies, and it is these results – and only these results – that manufacturers are legally required to publish. However, there will always be a difference between lab testing and real-world use. For example, battery range, like fuel economy for petrol and diesel vehicles, depends on the type of trip, conditions, driving style, vehicle load and other factors.’