E-car winter test: Big differences in the cold: up to 194 kilometers less range

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Range is the most important criterion for many customers when buying an electric car. But many electric car drivers are familiar with this problem: in the winter months, when temperatures are low, the effective range of their electric cars is often significantly lower than in the summer months, and therefore the WLTP deviates significantly from the information promised by the manufacturer.

The Norwegian Drivers’ Association (NAF) therefore twice a year tests the effective ranges of various battery-electric models available on the market. This test is especially interesting in winter. Because NAF tests electric vehicles on normal roads and in “typical Scandinavian conditions”, according to its website. For the latest test, which took place last month, this specifically means that all cars were tested on the same day and in the same outdoor conditions. Temperatures ranged from minus two to minus ten degrees and strong winds often blew.

Differences between 61 and 194 km

Each was powered by a single battery charge. And the results were very different. In the BMW i5, the difference between the BMW-specified WLTP range and the NAF-measured winter range was 61 kilometers (444 kilometers instead of 505 WLTP kilometers), while in the VW ID.7, the worst of the electric vehicles tested, the difference was a steep 194 Kilometers. Instead of the VW 608’s promised WLTP mileage, NAF testers were only able to cover 414 kilometres.

The Norwegian Drivers’ Association (NAF) tested 23 models. However, not all of the tested models are available in Switzerland either. The Chinese HiPhi Z even outperformed the BMW i5 by only 33 kilometers. However, since the HiPhi Z is not available (yet) in Switzerland, we did not list it in our table. The same applies to other Chinese electric cars that perform surprisingly well: XPeng G9 (difference 68 km), Nio EL6 (73 km), Nio ET5 (79 km) and BYD Dolphin (88 km); All of these can be classified. ranks in the top three. Among the Chinese electric cars tested, the worst was the MG4 Trophy by 120 kilometers.

Test overview

Source: Blick