Road tests show electric vehicles keep pulling up short
Electric vehicles aren’t going as far as their manufacturers promise; independent road tests show that all models analyzed fail to meet the advertised range.
A popular small car has achieved its worst EV result ever in recent testing, falling more than 120 kilometers short of its sticker mileage.
The Australian Automobile Association announced the findings on Thursday from four electric car road trials carried out as part of its $14 million Real World Testing Programme.
The results come after a first round of electric vehicle reviews found that all five models failed to meet promised range, with 76 per cent of 131 internal combustion and hybrid vehicles consuming more fuel than advertised.
The association tests vehicles on a 93km track in and around Geelong, Victoria, on urban and rural roads as well as highways.
US automaker Tesla has achieved the best result of any electric car test to date, with its Model Y SUV consuming just three percent more energy than advertised and falling 16 kilometers short of its target.
By contrast, the MG4 electric hatchback delivered its worst result so far, missing the 405km target by 124km; this was a 31 percent shortfall.
The Kia EV3 missed its target by 11 percent, or 67 km, while the Smart #1 electric car fell short by 13 percent, or 53 km.
Association chief executive Michael Bradley said comparing the real-world range of electric cars with laboratory results was vital for drivers as it would help them make decisions and set expectations.
“These results give consumers an independent indication of real-world battery range, meaning they now know which cars are performing as advertised and which are not,” he said.
“Giving consumers better information about real-world driving range means buyers can worry less about running out of battery and can transition to electric vehicles with confidence.”
The association’s vehicle testing program, funded by the federal government and launched in 2023, tested 140 of a targeted 200 vehicles and found most consumed more energy or fuel than promised.
The Australian testing program was launched in the wake of the 2015 Volkswagen scandal, when it was revealed that the European carmaker had used software to manipulate vehicle emissions during laboratory tests.
