Real-world range: Top five vehicles not selling an electric dream

14 Jan 2019

As electric car batteries and the UK’s charging infrastructure improve, range anxiety will begin to dissipate. But at the moment, drivers are particularly keen to know just how far their electric vehicles will go.

While the move away from the lab-based New European Driving Cycle to the more realistic Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) will result in more realistic consumption data, we started wondering just how electric vehicles’ real-life ranges still differ from the new, more realistic cycle.

We’ve picked out five EVs that have a claimed range closest to real-life range under warm weather conditions with combined motorway and town driving. Bear in mind range will always vary depending on the drivers speed, style of driving, climate and route conditions (according to figures from the EV Database UK*).

Kia Soul

Claimed WLTP range: 155 miles

Real-life range: 110 miles*

A little bit long in the tooth now, the Kia Soul EV is due an update next year with its big unveil coming at the 2018 LA Motor Show. But with Kia hoping that it’s new e-Niro will become the flagship EV for the brand going forward, are the Soul’s days numbered?

As it stands now, with 45 miles difference between stated and real mileage the car continues to have a lot to offer. Using a 7.4kW wall box it takes 5 hours 30 minutes at a rate of 21 miles of range per hour. From a standard wall plug it takes 15 hours 30 minutes to charge at a rate of 7 miles of range per hour.

Hyundai Kona

Claimed WLTP range: 279 miles

Real-life range: 245 miles*

With its popular crossover-esque looks helping it to stand out in this segment and 34 miles difference between stated and real mileage, there’s no reason the Kona shouldn’t be the most popular first-choice EV for a lot of people in the coming years.

For the 64kWh model, it offers a charge time of 10 hours 30 minutes using a 7.2kW wallbox at a rate of 23 miles of range per hour of charge. Using a 50kW rapid charger you can go from zero to fully charged in one hour.

Volkswagen e-Golf

Claimed WLTP range: 144 miles.

Real-life range: 120 miles*

With its effortless blend of performance and efficiency, and the brand reputation for quality and reliability, the e-Golf brings with it all the hallmarks of the award-winning Golf in a zero emission package. It also offers a decent claimed to real mileage difference of 24 miles.

From a wall plug, it will take the e-Golf 16 hours and 30 minutes to charge from 0-100%, which is a rate of seven miles per hour of charge. Using a 7.4kW wallbox will take 10 hours 30 minutes at a rate of 11 miles of range per hour.

Nissan Leaf

Claimed WLTP range: 168 miles

Real-life range: 150 miles*

The car that is arguably doing to the most to normalise EVs, the Nissan Leaf is easy to drive and it seems to be at its most relaxing when the road conditions are at their most stressful. And with a minor difference of 18 miles between claimed and real range, it should continue to lead the way for affordable EVs into the near future.

Using a 7.2kW wallbox will take 7 hours at a rate of 22 miles of range per hour.

Hyundai Ioniq

Claimed WLTP mileage: 126 miles

Real-life range: 120 miles*

Hyundai’s all-electric version of the Ioniq is not only a spacious, practical family hatch, it also happens to offer one of the best claimed-to-real-life mileage figures from an EV with a difference of just six miles.

Using a 7.4 kW wallbox will take five hours at a rate of 24 miles of range per hour. From a wall plug, it will take the Ioniq 14 hours and 30 minutes to charge from 0-100%, which is a rate of eight miles per hour of charge.