Consumption data for electric cars: This is how far electric cars really go

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A decade or more ago, it was clear to all motorists that manufacturers’ consumption figures were impossible to achieve in everyday life. At that time, factory consumption was still measured according to the old NEDC measurement cycle. This was based on an old long-distance route profile that the measurement engineer recreated on a test bench. Result: There was often a difference in additional consumption of 1.5 liters or more between theory and practice.

This has changed significantly with the new WLTP cycle (which stands for worldwide harmonized light vehicle testing procedure). In Blick automobile tests, many internal combustion engines easily reach the measured values ​​after the new cycle and sometimes even exceed them. Does this also apply to electric cars?

The measurement is done this way

Many drivers should already be aware that the specified range for electric vehicles (also known as WLTP range) is often unrealistic. So why is this actually the case and, above all, how is it measured? Blick asked TCS expert Erich Schwizer. Two more parts are being added to the 23 km long, four-section WLTP cycle for electric cars. This forms a loop approximately 31 km long, called the dynamic segment (DS).

“This segment is operated once with a full battery and once with just over 10 percent remaining capacity. There are several reasons for this: On the one hand, recovery is not possible with a full battery, on the other hand, you need to be able to take into account operating conditions such as battery voltage drops and battery temperature changes while driving. ,” Schwizer explains to us. In the first calculation of combined consumption and city consumption, the WLTP sections are weighted and determined from both DSs.

Complicated? Absolutely: After the first DS, you drive constantly at 100 km/h in order to reach the battery charge level of around 10 percent faster. “The measurement in the second DS is followed by continuous driving until the speed of 100 km/h is no longer sustainable. “The total amount of energy taken from the battery during two DS and both stationary drives is recorded,” says Schwizer. The combined range in a vehicle’s technical data is obtained by dividing this total amount of energy by the total consumption stated above.

In order to determine the WLTP consumption specification based on technical data, the battery must be fully charged and the total amount of energy drawn from the socket must be measured. “The WLTP consumption in the brochure is the amount of recharged energy divided by the pre-calculated range,” the expert tells us.

Intervals are generally optimistic

So what does this mean in daily life? The WLTP cycle leads to much more realistic consumption figures compared to the previous NEDC. Under favorable weather and operating conditions, the owner can actually reach or even fall slightly below the specified WLTP consumption. However, the ranges determined by WLTP are often too optimistic. A more realistic range value can be obtained by dividing the net battery capacity (usable capacity) stated in the brochure by the stated WLTP consumption. This leads to realistic values ​​unless hot, cold or fast highway driving is involved.

In the case of Smart #1, the net capacity of 62 kilowatt hours (kWh) divided by the “autonomous average consumption” of 16.3 kWh/100 km gives a range of 380 km. If you divide the 62 kWh net capacity by the 17.4 kWh/100 km consumption in the brochure, you get a realistic range of 356 km.

Source: Blick