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Tesla’s range estimates are called into question in new independent tests conducted by Edmunds, showing Tesla’s vehicles do not meet their EPA estimates.
Range estimates
There are no good range estimates for electric vehicles. There are just bad ones, some not being as bad as others.
To be fair, this is also the case for gasoline-powered vehicles, but range has been more of a priority for EVs due to the fact that they have shorter range, especially at the start of the transition.
Range is based on the energy capacity inside the vehicle and its efficiency.
However, efficiency can be affected by a ton of different factors including speed, temperature, altitude, etc.
The EPA’s range estimate is believed to be the most accurate, but not the same for all EVs as manufacturers have the flexibility to play around with the numbers a bit, depending on their degree of prudence or aggressiveness.
Tesla range estimates compared to other car manufacturers
Tesla is reputed to be the leader in the electric vehicle industry in terms of range and efficiency based on EPA figures.
However, the automaker is known to play around with the numbers a bit, and in recent years some owners have complained that they cannot meet the estimate under real conditions.
Edmunds tried to compare the EPA ratings of 15 EVs, including five Tesla, to actual range, and here are the results:
| Vehicle | EPA valued |
Edmunds tested |
EPA valued |
Edmunds tested |
Ambient Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi 2021 e-tron sportback |
345 kilometers | 378 miles * (+ 9.2%) |
44 kWh / 160 kilometers |
38.2 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 13.2%) |
71 ° |
| Chevrolet 2020 Bolt |
409 kilometers | 441 kilometers (+ 6.9%) |
29 kWh / 160 kilometers |
25.7 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 11.4%) |
60 ° |
| Ford 2021 Mustang Mach-E AWD Expandable Range |
270 kilometers | 500 kilometers (+ 12.6%) |
37 kWh / 160 kilometers |
33.1 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 10.5%) |
62 ° |
| Hyundai 2020 Electric Ioniq |
276 kilometers | 320 kilometers (+ 18.9%) |
25 kWh / 160 kilometers |
20.8 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 16.8%) |
70 ° |
| Hyundai 2019 Electric Kona |
408 kilometers | 515 kilometers (+ 21.9%) |
28 kWh / 160 kilometers |
22.3 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 20.4%) |
61 ° |
| Kia 2020 Niro ev |
379 kilometers | 455 kilometers (+ 19.2%) |
30 kWh / 160 kilometers |
25.3 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 15.7%) |
67 ° |
| MINI 2020 Cooper SE |
177 kilometers | 250 kilometers (+ 36.5%) |
31 kWh / 160 kilometers |
21.8 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 29.7%) |
62 ° |
| Nissan 2020 Leaf Plus SL |
215 kilometers | 377 kilometers (+ 10.2%) |
32 kWh / 160 kilometers |
27.1 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 15.3%) |
67 ° |
| Polestar 2021 2 Performance |
373 kilometers | 228 kilometers * (-2.1%) |
37 kWh / 160 kilometers |
35.2 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 4.9%) |
67 ° |
| Porsche 2020 Taycan 4S |
323 kilometers | 523 miles * (+ 59.3%) |
49 kWh / 160 kilometers |
32.3 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 34.1%) |
73 ° |
| Tesla 2020 Model S performance |
526 kilometers | 518 kilometers * (-2.5%) |
35 kWh / 160 kilometers |
32.6 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 6.9%) |
60 ° |
| Tesla 2018 Model 3 Performace |
500 kilometers | 256 miles * (-17.4%) |
29 kWh / 160 kilometers |
30.1 kWh / 160 kilometers (-3.8%) |
61 ° |
| Tesla 2020 Model 3 Standard Range Plus |
400 kilometers | 232 Miles * (-7.2%) |
24 kWh / 160 kilometers |
23.0 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 4.2%) |
67 ° |
| Tesla 2020 Model X Long Range |
528 kilometers | 294 miles * (-10.4%) |
35 kWh / 160 kilometers |
35.0 kWh / 160 kilometers 0.0% |
60 ° |
| Tesla 2020 Model Y Performance |
471 kilometers | 423 kilometers * (-9.6%) |
30 kWh / 160 kilometers |
29.6 kWh / 160 kilometers (+ 1.3%) |
65 ° |
As you can see, Edmunds couldn’t reach the EPA lineup on any of the Tesla vehicles, while he beat the EPA lineup by some decent margins in other EVs.
Taking Electrek
Again, no range test is perfect, but I think the comparison here is what most people would experience and what I have experienced myself, having driven almost every vehicle on this list.
Tesla is more aggressive in its advertised lineup while other automakers tend to be more conservative.
Now let me be clear: you can still hit the EPA range in Tesla vehicles, and that doesn’t mean Tesla is lying. It is allowed to play within a margin (a multiplier) in the EPA rating.
These are just different strategies adopted by different car manufacturers. Ideally you want more consistency in the industry, but that is the current situation.
The EPA ratings are better than nothing, but I like this tendency of automakers to be more conservative, because I think a precise or conservative displayed range is better for range anxiety than it is. have a long autonomy announced.
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