Electric vehicles (EVs) have been touted as the future of transportation, promising a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to traditional gas cars. However, an investigation by UK magazine What Car? found a significant gap between the advertised range of EVs and their actual mileage under real-world conditions.
Carmakers are legally required to publish the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which provides consumers with realistic estimates of vehicle fuel economy for European EVs. While standardized for comparison across different makes and models, the WLTP is conducted under conditions that don’t replicate real-life driving scenarios, including miles to a full charge.
What Car?’s investigation has sparked calls for more accurate, real-world testing protocols and greater transparency to prevent legal action against carmakers. For the EV industry to fulfill the promise of electric mobility, drivers need to know what to expect from their vehicles on the road.
33% is a lot
What Car? tested a dozen EVs under real-world conditions and found that EVs have up to one third less range than advertised.
Typically, tests to determine how many miles an electric car can drive after one charge are done in warm conditions. However, What Car? exposed cars to colder temperatures overnight and then drove them on a test track until their batteries were depleted. What they discovered was that at colder temperatures, cars perform much worse.
This is because EVs are tested in laboratories at an ambient temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, instead of at colder temperatures where batteries are less efficient. In fact, What Car?’s real-world testing demonstrated an 18% average drop in range in winter compared to summer.
In fact, several vehicles failed to perform to driver expectations. The Lexus UX 300e Takumi fell short by 100 miles of its advertised 273 miles, while the Lexus RZ 450e Takumi’s range was 92 miles shorter than its 251. Only two EVs performed well on a full charge: the Mercedes EQE 300 Sport Edition hit exactly 300 miles, while the Tesla Model 3 Long Range reached 293.
Stuck close to home?
What Car?’s investigation into the actual vs. advertised range of EVs raises questions about the transparency and accountability of dealerships and manufacturers, while opening doors for potential electric vehicle range lawsuits.
Taking legal action, whether it’s for Lemon Law, Auto Fraud, or Bait & Switch cases, is a way for consumers to fight back. That’s why lawyers like Brennan Law are here to help. We’re not just any law firm; we specialize in California lemon law and protecting consumers from unfair practices like automotive dealer fraud. If your EV falls short of its promise, Brennan Law is the right law firm for you.