It overshadows all other qualities. A good look, comfortable seats, plenty of space and plenty of power fall short if the range is poor.
"Range, range, range" is analogous to the housing market's three B's - "location, location and location". Here you can be deceived. Mortensrud becomes Nordstrand, Hovseter becomes Holmenkollen, - and how far is a stone's throw when it is located by Frognerparken?
Scope as goods declaration
The car industry knows that range sells, and is happy to help mislead customers to create the impression that the range is higher than it is. Scope is a product declaration that must not only be stated in km, but also with which test procedure is used for the measurement.
WLTP and NEDC
Today's standard is WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure). It consists of test procedures that form the basis for measuring emissions, consumption and range. WLTP is used as the basis for calculating Norwegian one-off taxes. Previously, the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) was used. The problem with the NEDC is that it was designed before today's hybrid cars and electric cars were made. Hybrid cars in particular got unrealistically good results. A fully charged hybrid battery could take the car through the test drive almost without the petrol engine kicking in. This resulted in measurements that no one could achieve under real conditions. Electric cars achieved far too good ranges due to low speeds and "kind" driving.
Range measured by what?
If you are going to compare two stated range figures, you need to make sure that they have been tested under the same conditions. Even today, several car manufacturers choose to state range without to state which test procedure is the basis. It can be WLTP or NEDC. If it says WLTP, a complete test cycle based on combined driving is implied. Sometimes this is referred to as "WLTP combined" - or simply "combined". There is also a figure for "WLTP urban" or "WLTP city driving". Range is only calculated after the gentlest parts of the test cycle.
Real range will always be a guess
Real ranges usually lie shorter than the WLTP test cycle. That's because real driving includes the use of air conditioning, driving in queues, driving on wet roads - something that is not covered in the WLTP test laboratories. Some dealers therefore also state real ranges. On the Volkswagen ID.3 website, in addition to the WLTP range, you can also find out which ranges you can experience in summer and winter driving. This is useful consumer information. But only the WLTP figures can be used for comparison.
Rarely two days with the same range
Throughout the autumn, we drove the Tesla Model 3 Long Range with a range of 560 km WLTP. Temperatures of 0 - 5 degrees, wet road surface and 110++ on the motorway give real ranges between 350-370 km. Dry roads and speeds below 100 km/h increase the range significantly. Even after several months behind the wheel of the same car, it is difficult to guess how long the range will be.
Achievable range for regular drivers?
In "Terje's cars" we calculate the theoretical range based on kilometers driven. All trips follow a similar, quiet and economical driving pattern. In principle, we do nothing but follow the flow of traffic and speed limits. It's actually the which gives the best effect on the range - in a positive sense. On dry roads and favorable temperatures, we can then achieve ranges that are around 90% of official WLTP figures. That we can get close to the WLTP range gives confidence in the car manufacturer's measurements.
What the car industry states
After recently going through various Chinese car models on websites translated from Chinese, I noticed that it is common among Chinese car manufacturers to state two ranges, - "WLTP urban" and "WLTP combined". The latter is the correct one – i.e. the range calculated after a full WLTP cycle. The other day I saw RSA bil's ad for the new Maxus Euniq 5 on Facebook. In the ad, the range was stated as "356 km WLTP". Even after clicking on to the website for Maxus Euniq, I find the same number. It was only when I downloaded the PDF document of detailed technical information that I saw that the stated range is not WLTP, but WLTP urban. Correct range after full WLTP cycle is 260 km.
Maxus Euniq and the competitors
How can it be that it is sometimes so difficult to find out what range the individual models have?
How range is stated online
Range must not only be stated in km, but also with the test procedure used for the measurement. It is necessary for us as customers to be able to make comparisons. After a quick look at the websites, we find several pages where it is necessary to go to other sources, for example to Elbil.no to find out which measurement method is used. Another phenomenon is how certain car dealers obviously try to keep the range hidden, and instead focus on other characteristics. Range is an essential property that one should not need to look for in a PDF attachment. So it's probably quite typical then, that they are worst the ranges that are most difficult to find.
Just like in the housing industry. Bad location is either kept hidden or stated as better than it actually is.
Facts
How easy is it to find range?
Audi.no stated output ranges are WLTP - but nowhere does it mention that it is WLTP
BMW.no states range WLTP - but nowhere mentions that it is WLTP
BYD.no (RSA) states range as NEDC
Citroen.no states range correctly as WLTP
DFSK.no (Gill) states range as NEDC
Fiat.no states range WLTP urban driving in large print and WLTP combined in small print
Ford.no states two values as maximum range without it being possible to confirm which is WLTP
Honda.no stated ranges are WLTP - but WLTP is not mentioned in any information material from Honda
Hyundai.no stated ranges are WLTP - easy to find under technical information
Jaguar.no stated maximum range is WLTP - but state nowhere that it is WLTP
KIA.no states ranges correctly as WLTP
Lexus.no states range correctly as WLTP
Maxus.no (RSA) incorrectly states "WLTP urban" range as if it were full WLTP cycle
Mazda.no states ranges in ht. WLTP – first combined driving, then city driving
Mercedes-benz.no stated ranges are WLTP - mentioned as "WLTP mixed" in brochure (PDF)
MGmotors.no (Gill) states range correctly as WLTP
Mini.no states range correctly as WLTP
Nissan.no states ranges as WLTP but states that it is based on own measurements - not WLTP
Opel.no states range correctly as WLTP
Peugeot.no states range correctly as WLTP
Polestar.no states range correctly as WLTP
Porsche.no states range correctly as WLTP
Renault.no states ranges correctly as WLTP
Seat.no range is difficult to find, but correctly stated as WLTP
Seresbil.no (Gill) states range as NEDC
Tesla.no states range correctly as WLTP
Volkswagen.no stated ranges are WLTP but you have to download technical data to see that it is WLTP
Volvo.no states range WLTP. Says it's "combined" but doesn't say it's WLTP
Xpeng.no states range correctly as WLTP
See
