Warning to electric car drivers over how far their motor can ACTUALLY go
ELECTRIC car drivers are being warned to check how far their motor can actually go.
Manufacturers are exaggerating the ranges on their vehicles when selling them to customers, a study has found.
Tests carried out on more than 70 electric cars found the actual range is around 20 per cent less than what’s advertised.
Consumer group Which? urged those considering the more environmentally friendly switch to research the car before buying, adding “rigorous” research needs to be done.
Not checking the range could result in a long car journey being impossible without charging breaks or see you breakdown.
It comes after the government announced 28 per cent of makers’ cars will now have to be electric by 2025.
Well-known brand Tesla travels less than 100 miles in comparison to what they advertise.
Two of their models are in the top five best sellers – but aren’t as great as they’re made out to be.
Kia Niro advertises 285 miles while only being able to carry out 165.
Meanwhile a Nissan Leaf claims to do 239 miles – but testing revealed it can only travel 187.
Emily Seymour, the sustainability editor at Which?, told The Times: “Our research suggests electric vehicle drivers could end up being disappointed by the distance they can realistically cover on a single charge.
“The electric cars in our tests fall on average 45 miles short of official figures, meaning owners will have to charge more frequently.
“This will have a greater impact on those who regularly drive long distances or cannot charge at home.”
She added the official range on a website doesn’t always reflect “real-world driving conditions”, such as potholes or hills.
The testing found larger electric cars performed the worst.
On average, the car was able to travel 56 fewer miles while needing 11.5 kilowatt hours more power to charge.
A car expert previously revealed the list of EVs which provide the longest range for under £40,000.
How far each bestselling electric car can go
Tesla Model Y
Amount sold in 2022: 35,551
Advertised range: 331 miles
Tested range: 231 miles
Tesla Model 3
Amount sold in 2022: 19,701
Advertised range: 374 miles
Tested range: 260 miles
Kia Niro
Amount sold in 2022: 11,197
Advertised range: 285 miles
Tested range: 165-350 miles
Volkswagen ID.3
Amount sold in 2022: 9,832
Advertised range: 265 miles
Tested range: 209 miles
Nissan Leaf
Amount sold in 2022: 9,178
Advertised range: 239 miles
Tested range: 187 miles