Electric cars: can we really trust the autonomy announced by manufacturers?
The range of electric vehicles is a crucial criterion for motorists. But the protocol for evaluating it is the subject of controversy in Italy.
When choosing a new electric car, range is a key issue for future buyers. The cause: " low battery anxiety " , the fear of running out of fuel in the middle of a journey. The protocol, the WLTP (the globally harmonized light vehicle test procedure) provides an estimate of the range of electric vehicles. Since January 1, 2019, all manufacturers in Europe have been required to display the data obtained by the WLTP cycle. The data, which appears objective (because it is used by all manufacturers), allowed consumers to compare models.
Except that on February 21, the opening of an investigation by the Italian competition watchdog cast doubt on these data. In question, four operators ( BYD , Stellantis , Tesla and Volkswagen ) allegedly provided on their respective websites "general and sometimes contradictory information on the range in kilometers of the electric vehicles marketed" . In detail, the manufacturers "did not specify which factors weigh on the maximum mileage claimed (of autonomy) and what effect they have on the actual mileage" , notes the Italian competition watchdog.
On April 20, the UFC Que Choisir association had already questioned the autonomy values displayed by manufacturers. According to it, the conditions for measuring the autonomy of electric cars are not very representative of reality. The WLTP test, carried out on a roller bench, does not take into account crucial factors such as "air resistance and rolling" , notes the association.
The same goes for energy-intensive equipment such as air conditioning and heating, the outside temperature and driving style, which are not taken into account during the test. And overall, the test does not take sufficient account of the substantial increase in electricity consumption observed during motorway journeys.
The WLTP protocol therefore presents significant gaps in the assessment of the autonomy of electric cars. To improve the reliability of the test, the legislator would have to integrate more representative driving conditions into the test protocol. Watch this space.
lefigaro
