Many EVs Don’t Live Up to Posted Ranges
Consumer Reports highway testing shows many fall well short of EPA estimates.

Some models actually beat their posted range estimates, the group said, including German brands BMW and Mercedes.
IMAGE: Pexels/Pixabay
Electric vehicles’ posted ranges between charges aren’t always accurate, according to newly released test results by Consumer Reports.
New EVs indicate Environmental Protection Agency range estimates posted on window stickers and on the U.S. Department of Energy’s website. But almost half the 22 models Consumer Reports has tested so far are off the mark, based on research the nonprofit group conducted this past summer.
Range accuracy may not be as important for the shorter trips many EV owners take from day to day, the organization said, but can be crucial on long road trips.
“Range is much more important when you’re far from home and away from reliable charging,” said the group’s manager of auto testing and insights, Alex Knizek, in a report on the test findings.
To gauge range, Consumer Reports drove fully charged EVs on highways at a steady 70 mph, it said, stopping when their batteries were fully out of power. It said almost half of the models failed to reach their posted ranges. The biggest disparity was in the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup, which stopped operating after 270 miles, 50 miles under its posted range.
Some models actually beat their posted range estimates, the group said, including German brands BMW and Mercedes, which exceeded theirs by more than 40 miles.
Consumer Reports said it’s asked the EPA to add a highway-speed range test like its for the agency's range estimations.
For more details, visit Consumer Report's test results page.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →