Electric Vehicle Range Explained: Types and Testing Methods!

When shopping for an electric vehicle (EV), driving range stands out as one of the most critical factors to consider. Although modern EVs offer significantly better range than earlier generations, range anxiety continues to be a major obstacle to wider EV adoption.

This concern is often amplified by the noticeable gap between manufacturer-claimed range figures and what drivers actually experience on the road. Automakers rely on standardized testing procedures to estimate an EV’s range, but these tests operate under controlled conditions and cannot fully replicate real-world driving scenarios.

It is easy to question why manufacturers use such tests if they do not reflect everyday usage. However, at a global scale, standardized test cycles serve an essential purpose. They provide a repeatable, consistent, and fair framework for vehicle development, calibration, and certification. More importantly, the concept of “real-world range” itself varies widely depending on driving style, terrain, traffic, weather, and road conditions, making it inherently subjective.

With that in mind, several internationally recognized testing protocols have emerged to estimate EV range. The most widely referenced among them are the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) test, the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure), and China’s CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle).

In this article, we break down these EV range testing standards in simple terms to help you understand how they work and what they actually mean, enabling you to make a more informed decision when choosing an electric vehicle based on its claimed driving range.

The Evolution of Electric Vehicle Range Testing

Testing protocols for vehicles have evolved significantly with the rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Traditionally, testing focused on Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, primarily to assess fuel consumption and mileage. However, as EVs have become mainstream, testing protocols have adapted to address their unique characteristics.

For Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), range testing primarily revolves around battery performance as the driving range of a electric vehicle largely depends on its battery’s capacity, composition, and size.

While battery performance can be quantified through technical specifications, factors such as environmental conditions, driving patterns, and road conditions significantly influence real-world performance. This makes it challenging to provide a single, universally accurate range estimate.

Driving conditions vary greatly between regions. For instance, the driving environment in the US differs from that in India and Nepal. Consequently, a single test protocol may not offer accurate range estimations across all regions.

To address these variations, different regions have developed specific testing protocols. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts range tests. The European Union uses the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), which replaced the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test.

China employs the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) for range estimation. Furthermore, India has also developed its own testing protocol, the Modified Indian Driving Cycle (MIDC), which is working towards gaining international recognition.

How are the EV Range Tests Carried Out?

Between these different standards, the methodology is more or less the same. Testers often employ  equipment such as Dynamometers which simulate real-world driving conditions by rolling the vehicle on rollers while measuring its power output and energy consumption, and Data logging systems which records various parameters, including battery voltage, current, and speed, providing detailed insights into the vehicle’s performance during the test.

The testing method involves running the EV through a set driving cycle that replicates a range of conditions such as duration & distance, speed phases (City speeds, Medium, High, Extra High), idling & stops, road load coefficients(friction, aerodynamic drag), ambient temperature, etc.

And each of the standard test cycles have their own set of criteria regarding those conditions which is why a EV might have different range on different test cycles, which we will go through now.

Most Common EV Range Tests

EPA Test – The Gold Standard

The EPA range test is done by the Environmental Protection Agency of the US, and is renowned for its rigorous evaluation of an EV’s range. During the test, vehicles run on a dynamometer that simulates real-world driving conditions, combining both city and highway driving. This approach reflects a typical mix of urban and long-distance travel. The test can last up to two hours, making it one of the toughest range tests for electric vehicles.

Moreover, EPA uses a correction factor of 0.7 which is multiplied to the final results obtained from the test. This is done to account for potential aggressive driving and HVAC usage.

In addition to standard testing, the EPA also evaluates vehicles under various temperature ranges to understand how extreme weather conditions impact battery performance. This thorough method ensures that the range estimate provided closely matches what drivers will experience in everyday use.

For example, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range has an EPA-estimated range of approximately 550 – 580 kms. In real-world conditions, drivers can generally expect a range of more than 500 kms but there are reports of the Model 3 Long Range giving more range than the EPA estimation in the ball park of 600 -ish kms.

WLTP – The Global Average

The WLTP test aims to provide a more realistic assessment of an EV’s range by incorporating a range of driving conditions. The procedure involves several phases: low, medium, high, and extra-high speeds.

Each phase reflects different traffic densities and road types, with urban roads accounting for 52% and highway roads 48% of the test.

Vehicles undergo testing on a dynamometer in these varying conditions for about 30 minutes, simulating diverse driving environments.

However, WLTP is not as rigorous as the EPA test. As a result, WLTP estimates can be 10-20% higher than EPA results for some vehicles. Despite this, the WLTP test is considered the most balanced among range tests and provides a decent estimate of a vehicle’s range.

Furthermore, WLTP is relevant to Nepal because many EVs imported into the country are WLTP-tested. For example, one of the most popular EVs in Nepal, the BYD Atto 3 (Superior Variant), has a WLTP-claimed range of 420 kilometers. In real-world conditions, the Atto 3 offers a practical range of around 330-340 kilometers.

While some deviation between claimed and actual range is inherent, the discrepancies can be attributed to Nepal’s demanding driving patterns and poor road conditions.

Nonetheless, WLTP provides a valuable benchmark for understanding an EV’s performance under more standardized conditions.

CLTC – The Urban Optimist

Unlike WLTP, CLTC does not include the “Extra-High” speed phase during the test. Instead it has low, medium, and high along with frequent idling periods to simulate traffic jams and lower average and top speeds compared to WLTP.

Since the test include lower speeds and less aggressive driving, the CLTC yield higher numbers as EVs are more efficient at lower speeds (due to regenerative braking). But it is described as the consideration for the heavy traffic in China which means lower average speeds for EV.

While CLTC range figures might not be as pertinent for regions outside China, they hold particular significance for Nepali consumers due the influx of Chinese EVs in the Nepali market, many of which are CLTC-tested.

For instance, consider the BYD Atto 3 Superior variant. The CLTC range for this model is claimed to be around 500 kilometers. However, in practical terms, the actual range in real-world conditions typically falls between 340 and 380 kms.

The discrepancy can be also attributed to differences in road infrastructure and driving conditions between China and Nepal. CLTC tests are designed to reflect Chinese driving patterns and road conditions, which may not align with those in Nepal.

Therefore, while CLTC range figures provide a baseline, it is beneficial for Nepali consumers to seek out WLTP references when evaluating the range of Chinese EVs.

NEDC – The Gentle Cycle

The NEDC was the standard test procedure in Europe before WLTP was introduced. It is by far the worst test for estimating the range of an EV. The test lasts for only 20 minutes and the distance covered is also a mere 11 km which leaves room for a highly inflated range estimates.

This cycle aims to simulate typical driving scenarios involving urban driving cycle and extra-urban scenarios but is known for its less demanding conditions, including lower average speeds (33.6 kmph) and less aggressive acceleration.

As a result, the NEDC often produced higher range estimates that deviates massively from the real-world yield (more than 30%). Due to its limitations in accurately reflecting actual vehicle performance, the NEDC has been replaced by the WLTP.

MIDC – The Indian Context

The MIDC is tailored to reflect driving conditions typical in India. Until recently, Indian EVs were tested using MIDC Part 1 (Urban) only which resulted in wildly inflated numbers because the simulated average speed was just 19 kmph.

However, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways now mandates MIDC Part 1 and Part 2 (Urban + Extra Urban). The “Part 2” introduces highway speeds up to 90 kmph which raises the average speed to 31 kmph. Due to this the range claim for Tata Nexon EV dropped from ~465 km to ~390 km.

But then again, that does not bring the MIDC based ranges any close to the real world estimations.

C75 – The Improved MIDC

The increasing adoption of EVs in India led to the introduction of the C75 test cycle. Tata Motors introduced the C75 standard as a voluntary transparency measure, and it is not a government mandate for all automakers yet.

Unlike MIDC, C75 test include HVAC, 250 kg of total payload, and temperature variance (10 – 40°C) which makes it a lot rigorous.  See for example the following picture which compares the MIDC P1 and C75 cycle:

On a more realistic note, the C75 test range for the Tata Punch EV is between 270-290 km. In our test, the Punch EV gave more than 250 kms worth of range in a comfortable manner.

Summary of Type of Electric Vehicle Range Tests

The following table summarizes the Range test along with their attributes.

To summarize, EPA standards are often considered the gold standard for range testing due to their rigorous and comprehensive evaluation. But most of the vehicles that come to Nepal are not EPA tested rather claim a WLTP, CLTC, or NEDC range.

So, in the context of Nepal, WLTP-based claims are generally more relevant and practical. The WLTP test offers a more accessible benchmark for consumers in Nepal, as most brands are leaning toward this protocol. A thing to consider is to account for a 10% to 20% error in WLTP claims, as the real-world range often falls short of these figures.

Thus, WLTP serves as a more applicable standard for understanding EV performance in Nepal’s unique driving environment. C75 also deserves an honorable mention here but since it is only being adopted by Tata for now, its scope is rather compromised.

Bonus

Since you sticked around until the end of the article, here’s a simple standard test conversion table with normalization formulas keeping WLTP as a reference.

*The mentioned conversion expression are generalized and might suffer a deviation of ±1-3%.