When purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle (EV), one of the most important selling points for many drivers is the advertised driving range. This figure, typically provided by the manufacturer or seller, promises a certain number of kilometers on a full charge. Yet, reality often tells a different story. A recent survey by the TV program Radar, conducted among 3,231 drivers of electric cars less than five years old, has revealed that over half of EV drivers (52 percent) have never achieved the maximum range that their cars are supposed to reach.
Despite this discrepancy, most drivers remain relatively satisfied with their EV experience. About 73 percent of respondents gave their car’s range four or five stars, suggesting that while expectations and reality may not always align, the practicality of EVs still meets everyday needs. However, 13 percent of drivers were dissatisfied, rating their vehicles poorly on range, and many of them voiced frustrations to their sellers or leasing companies—though very few reported receiving meaningful solutions.
Why Drivers Don’t Reach the Promised Range
The range of an electric vehicle is influenced by several key factors, many of which are often underestimated by consumers at the time of purchase.
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Driving Style: Aggressive acceleration, high speeds, and heavy use of air conditioning or heating systems can quickly drain a battery.
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Ambient Temperature: Cold weather in particular reduces battery efficiency, sometimes cutting range by a significant margin.
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Terrain: Hilly or mountainous routes consume more energy compared to flat city driving.
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Battery Health: Over time, battery capacity naturally declines, affecting how far an EV can travel on a single charge.
In the survey, 77 percent of drivers acknowledged that they were informed about these factors when purchasing their cars. However, 40 percent said they were not told by how much these factors would reduce their range.
Among those who were informed, the accuracy of these estimates varied. Two-thirds said that the information they received matched reality fairly well. Interestingly, one in five drivers reported that their car’s real-world performance was actually better than what they were warned about, while one in eight drivers said the opposite—their range was significantly worse than expected.
Dissatisfied Drivers and Poor Solutions
For those drivers who felt dissatisfied with their EV’s real-world range, the next step was to reach out to their seller or leasing company. According to the survey, 41 percent of unhappy drivers did just that. Unfortunately, solutions were rare.
Some reported being offered courses to improve their driving style, while others were simply advised to drive differently, slow down, or limit their use of certain features. For many drivers, this response was inadequate, especially since the advertised range often sets their expectations when purchasing or leasing the vehicle in the first place.
Differences Between Car Brands
Not all electric vehicles perform equally when it comes to reaching their advertised range. The survey uncovered notable differences between brands:
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Peugeot: The brand most likely to disappoint, with 83 percent of Peugeot drivers reporting that they fail to reach the promised range—well above the overall average of 52 percent.
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Volvo: Comes next, with 73 percent of drivers saying they fall short of expectations.
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Tesla: Despite its reputation for advanced EV technology, 61 percent of Tesla drivers also reported not meeting the advertised range.
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Hyundai: Surprisingly, Hyundai outperformed expectations. Around 45 percent of its drivers said they actually achieved more kilometers than advertised. This positive deviation suggests that Hyundai’s range estimates are conservative, giving customers a pleasant surprise.
This variation highlights the importance of brand transparency. Manufacturers that provide realistic or conservative estimates not only reduce the risk of customer disappointment but also build long-term trust with their drivers.
Lessons for EV Buyers
For those considering an electric car, this study offers several takeaways:
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Expect Variability: The advertised range is an ideal number, often calculated under standardized conditions that may not reflect real-world usage.
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Ask for Details: When shopping for an EV, buyers should ask how much range reduction can be expected under specific conditions such as winter weather, highway driving, or city traffic.
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Consider Your Driving Needs: If your daily commute is short, range discrepancies may not matter. For frequent long-distance drivers, however, they can be significant.
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Research the Brand: Some manufacturers, like Hyundai, appear to provide conservative estimates, while others may set expectations too high. Checking real-world driver reviews can be invaluable.
A Balanced Perspective
Although the report reveals that more than half of EV drivers do not achieve the promised range, it is also worth noting that three-quarters of them remain satisfied overall. This suggests that while the numbers may fall short, the practicality, cost savings, and environmental benefits of electric driving are still compelling enough to keep most owners happy.
The challenge now lies with automakers and sellers. Transparency in range estimates and better communication with customers could significantly improve satisfaction rates. In addition, as battery technology continues to improve, the gap between advertised and real-world range may gradually close.
Conclusion
The survey by Radar sheds light on an important issue in the electric car market: expectations versus reality. Half of drivers do not reach the advertised range of their vehicles, and while most are still satisfied, a notable minority feel let down by both the performance of their cars and the lack of support from sellers.
Brand differences also reveal that some automakers are better at aligning customer expectations with reality than others. For EV buyers, this underscores the importance of research, realistic planning, and asking the right questions before purchase.
Ultimately, the EV industry must address these range discrepancies to ensure that the growing number of electric drivers feel confident and supported. Until then, electric car buyers should remain aware that the range figure on the sales sheet may not always reflect what happens on the road.
