Warning to drivers buying electric cars as their range is up to 100 miles less than advertised – best and worst brands
A WARNING has been issued to EV drivers as their range may be up to 100 miles less than advertised.
Motorists have been told to take ranges with a “pinch of salt” due to the varying distances they can actually travel.
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The Volkswagen ID 4 GTX (2021), for example, has an official range of 300 miles, but only managed 193 miles in a test.
The consumer group Which? 60 vehicles tested from large SUVs to smaller cars.
They found the vehicles had an average range of 192 miles, compared to the 238 miles found in manufacturer testing.
The data is likely to fuel “range anxiety” as drivers fear their EVs are running out of power. This is believed to be a major concern of those considering buying electric cars.
And with a ban on petrol and diesel cars set to take effect in 2030, drivers will want guarantees their engines will last the distance.
In addition to the Volkswagen ID 4 GTX, other cars were found not to achieve the advertised range.
The recently updated Polestar 2 dual motor managed 247 miles, 55 miles short of its official range.
Volkswagen’s e-Golf (2014 to 2020), meanwhile, managed 125 miles but had an official range of 186.
Other models performed poorly in which? better off.
The BMW iX (2021) managed to reverse the trend and managed two miles further than its official range of 380 miles. The Audi E-Tron (2021) had an official range of 241 miles and managed 227 miles in testing.
The Mercedes-Benz EQV (2020) also performed quite well, managing 202 miles with its official range of 213 miles.
Manufacturers are required by law to test all electric cars under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) and publish those results.
But which one? said it believed the test had a “strong tendency to exaggerate the efficiency and resulting range of electric vehicles (EVs) compared to our own testing – and that number can vary significantly.”
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Industry Group Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “The WLTP 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 laboratory tests and real applications, and between official and unofficial tests, where the parameters and methods may differ.”
BMW said: “The published range figures for BMW iX and all cars sold in the UK are based on the laboratory-based WLTP test and real-world range will depend on many factors.”
Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi and Polestar have all been asked to comment.
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