Electric vehicle sales are booming, but for many reluctant motorists, the fear of battery drain and being far from home remains a major concern when trying to upgrade to more environmentally friendly models.
However, a new study suggests that “range anxiety” shouldn’t be an issue as manufacturers have implemented a hidden security system that they don’t tell us about.
What car? have recently tested some of the latest electric models and say manufacturers are deliberately conservatively programming the range to give drivers a “crash buffer” before the battery runs out – similar to the extra mileage you can get if the fuel gauge comes on on a petrol or diesel model.
The title of the car tested 10 electric vehicles in summer conditions to see how far they could go on a fully charged battery in some of the UK’s hottest temperatures.
It turned out that the best of them is 8.1% less than the declared range without recharging, and the worst is almost one-fifth (18.6%).
Although it didn’t quite reach the “official” full charge range, each car continued to run for several miles after the gauges indicated the battery was low, and the automakers seemed to be setting aside a few kilowatts of power to create a worst-case scenario. the battery runs out on the way to the destination.
While conventional petrol and diesel cars can travel between 40 and 70 kilometers when the fuel gauge comes on, the big fear is that electric vehicles will immediately break down if the range reaches the dreaded 0 percent. But that’s just not the case What car? to tell.
Of the vehicles tested, the BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport not only covered the furthest distance on a single charge at £54,980, it also had the largest contingency buffer. It covered a total of 316 miles (29 miles less than the officially advertised 345 miles), but 19 of those miles were flown with a digital indicator indicating that the range was over, as tested.
The Kia Niro EV (£41,745) and the £51,750 Volvo XC40 Recharge provide up to 17 miles of extra range, while long-range variants of the hugely popular Model 3 (£57,490) and Model Y (57 £990) from Tesla have no power reserve. reserves of 13 and 11 miles respectively.
New Volkswagen ID.5 Pro Performance SUV (starting at £54,640) has 15 miles left when ad says it should be empty, more than the £29,495 MG ZS and £47,195 Kia EV6 GT pounds sterling (both 13 miles). ) and Cupra Born at £38,390 (10 miles).
The £65,865 iX3 M Sport Pro SUV had the shortest run of the 10 cars, measured at just 5 miles.
Steve Huntingford, What car? Editor: “The fear of what will happen if you run out of battery in an electric car keeps many from switching, but our test showed that not only do you get a lot of warnings, but you get a zero on the range indicator, you have enough time to get to the shelter or find another safe place to stop.
The study found that Cupra’s Born hatchback had the shortest summer run of the 10 vehicles tested: a measured 219 miles versus a claimed 400 miles.
But the Tesla Model 3 – the second best-selling new car in 2021 and one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the UK this year – has the biggest range gap ever compared to claims.
The Model 3 was the furthest behind its stated range, measured in What car? the ability to travel 293 miles on a single charge compared to the “official” figure of 350 miles – a deficit of 57 miles – or 18.6% – of range.
They also tested three cars tested during the summer months. What car? in their latest winter range test – with a direct performance comparison based on seasonal temperatures.
In the summer, the BMW iX3 M Sport Pro drove another 66 kilometers, the Kia EV6 RWD GT-Line another 80 kilometers, and the Tesla Model Y Long Range another 91 kilometers.
On average, the trio traveled 49 miles (21.4%) further in summer testing at 24 to 29°C than they did in winter at 3 to 7°C.
Past Research What car? Heat pump-equipped electric vehicles lose less range as temperatures drop because the heat pump absorbs excess heat from the electric powertrain and distributes it to the vehicle’s interior through the air conditioning system, reducing the load on the battery.
How far do electric models go when the gauge shows zero range?
bmw i4 19 miles
Kia Niro EV 17 miles
Charging Volvo XC40 17 miles
Volkswagen ID.5 15 miles
Kia EV6 13 miles
MG ZS EV 13 miles
Tesla model 3 13 miles
Tesla Model Y 11 miles
Cupra is born 10 miles
bmw x3 5 miles
Source: What car?
Note: tests were carried out on closed roads. Each of the 10 cars was fully charged and left outside for 15 hours before being plugged back in to ensure the batteries were 100 percent charged before testing began. The air conditioning was set to 21 degrees and ran to empty, with a change of driver at the end of each leg, and the position of the cars was also repositioned to ensure that no car constantly punched a hole in the air to improve aerodynamic efficiency. from others.
Could the lack of cars stop the growth of electric vehicles?
Sales of electric vehicles are on the rise. By the end of July, the British had acquired some 127,492 battery-operated models. Going back to 2019 and over the same seven-month period, there were just 14,246 electric vehicles registered. This is an increase of 795 percent in three years.
But consumer website Electrifying.com says the explosion in electric vehicle sales could soon be a hurdle.
A combination of rising demand, coupled with a global shortage of semiconductor chips and other key components that have crippled the automotive industry over the past two years, is now starting to have a negative impact on the availability of the latest electric models. This means that orders placed today may only be delivered in 2024.
Elektrifizierende Gründerin Ginny Buckley hat Händler und Marken zu den Lieferzeiten für ihre neuesten At that time.
“Unfortunately, this surge in demand, combined with supply chain issues and chip shortages, has resulted in significant delays for many drivers as we head into September, which is usually the busiest time for new car registrations.”
Popular models like the Vauxhall Corsa-e, Mokka-e and Renault Zoe were only available four months ago, but now buyers can wait up to four months to get one, the site says.
Super-popular models like the Volkswagen ID.3, which were delivered within weeks last year, are now facing delays of “up to 18 months”.
In the more luxurious market segment, consumers can wait up to 18 months for the Audi E-tron, which costs £63,000. Relatively modest models, including the Kia EV6 (from £44,195) and the Skoda Enyaq (from £42,435), have wait times of over a year.
The current situation has even caused Elon Musk’s Tesla brand to completely stop producing the Model X and Model S to meet the growing demand for the smaller and cheaper Model 3 and Model Y.
“Dealers are telling us this problem won’t go away anytime soon,” Ms. Buckley warns.
“If you can be flexible with your technology, trim and color, some vehicles may be available sooner. However, don’t expect any notable deals – with inventories so low and competition so fierce, it’s getting harder and harder to find a bargain.”
Estimated wait times for the 34 hottest new electric vehicles
Audi Etron 18 months
Audi Q4 Etron 18 months
bmw i4 9-12 months
bmw x 3 months
Citroen e-C4 3 months
Cupra is born 3 months
DS 3 Crossback E-Tense 4 months
Fiat 500e 5-6 months
Ford Mustang Mah-E 9-12 months
Hyundai Ionic5 Seven months
Hyundai Kona 2 months
Jaguar I pace up to 6 months
Kia Niro EV 3-6 months
Kia EV6 12-15 months
kia soul 12 months
Lexus UX300e 12 months
Mazda MX-30 up to six months
mini electric 6-9 months
Nissan Leaf 5 months+
Nissan Aria Seven months
peugeot e208 6 months
Peugeot e2008 6 months
northern star 2 6-8 months
Porsche Taycan 12 months
Renault Zoe 3-4 months
Skoda Enyac 18 months
Tesla Model S 18-24 months (WITHOUT PRODUCTION)
Tesla Model X 18-24 months (WITHOUT PRODUCTION)
Tesla model 3 6-9 months
Tesla Model Y 3-6 months
Opel Corsa e 3-4 months
Opel Mokka-e 3-4 months
Volkswagen ID.3 12-18 months
Volkswagen ID.4 7.5 months
Source: Electrification.com
Note. Dates correct as of August 10, 2022.