Electric vehicle range claims under scrutiny
AAA investigates advertised EV distance figures to find discrepancies of up to 23 per centThe Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has announced it has begun what it claims is the first independent testing of electric vehicles to assess how far they can travel in the real world, versus the manufacturer's official claim.
Releasing its findings of the first five cars that have undergone evaluation, the AAA found that drive ranges were overestimated by manufacturers by between 5 per cent to an alarming 23 per cent.
Providing buyers with a ‘real’ indication of battery range, the best-performing of the five EVs tested was the new Smart #3 that delivers a range only 5 per cent shy of its 455km claim, with the compact SUV covering up to 432km before it needed to be plugged in.
The worst offender was the BYD Atto 3 that features a range variation of an alarming 23 per cent, with it also consuming 21 per cent more energy on the move.
Both the best-selling Tesla Model Y (533km) and the Kia EV6 (528km) were just 8 per cent shy of their official claims.
In defence of the carmaker’s, the claimed range figures are recorded under mandatory lab testing that were not devised by any of the brands involved.
Other analysts have indicated that the AAA test program, while a clearer indication of real-world figures could also be flawed.
Testing took place on a 93km drive circuit near Geelong, Victoria, between March and May 2025, with both weather, temperatures, traffic and road conditions all capable of playing a role in the range achieved.
Vehicles were also not tested to zero, with results based on the consumption achieved on the test loop.
More variation could have been introduced by using second-hand vehicles for testing, with the impact of fast DC charging potentially degrading the battery and reducing total range. However, the Smart #3 had reportedly covered 4202km, while the Tesla Model 3 accumulating an even more significant 29,880km.
Commenting on the new real-world testing AAA Managing Director Michael Bradley said: “As more EVs enter our market, our testing will help consumers understand which new market entrants measure up on battery range.
“Our Program will bring confidence to Australian fleets and families looking to buy an EV.”
Related: Smart #3 2024 Review
Related: BYD Atto 3 – What you need to know
Related: Is range anxiety an outdated concern?
Related: How does an EV calculate range?
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