265 - The WLTP Episode
About this episode
Explore why electric vehicle (EV) range often falls short of advertised WLTP figures, using a Mustang Mach-E owner's experience as a case study. The discussion explains WLTP as a standardized, comparative test rather than a real-world range predictor, highlighting factors like driving style, speed, temperature, and vehicle setup that affect actual range. The episode also compares EV efficiency to traditional fuel consumption, offers tips on assessing real EV range through test drives and databases, and shares insights from record-setting EV driver Kevin Booker. Additionally, a brief segment on microbial fuel cell technology offers a renewable energy perspective.
In this episode Gary covers a topic of great concern to many new EV drivers: the range of their car. We've been sold EVs with phenomenal ranges by dealers, OEMs, and general advertising. But, in reality, these rarely materialise, with lower-than advertised ranges compounded by a further reduction in winter when the weather is cooler.
We look at the WLTP range, what it means and how it's calculated; factors that affect your range; how to calculate what your actual range is; and why efficiency is more important than range
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Links in the show notes:
- The Soli lamp - Cool thing
- All electric vehicles in Europe - EV Database
- Are We Too Impatient to Be Intelligent? - by Rory Sutherland - Behavioral Scientist
- 7 Factors That Affect Electric Vehicle Range - Charged Future
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Maps and Data - Fuel Economy at Various Driving Speeds
- 189 - The Efficiency Episode - The EV Musings Podcast
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
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Ford Mustang
".... A recent BBC Morning Live segment highlighted a Mustang Mach-E odour who was extremely unhappy with his c..."
Ford Capri
"...recent post on LinkedIn that showed a 1973 RS3100 Capri which had a 255 mile range on a 13 gallon tank. N..."
Tesla Model 3
"... per gallon. Likewise for a car such as the Tesla Model 3 your range at 55 miles per hour might be 364 mile..."
Tesla Model
"... miles per gallon. Likewise for a car such as the Tesla Model 3 your range at 55 miles per hour might be 364 mi..."
Polestar 2
"...onsumption figures compared to WLTP data. For the Polestar 2 for example the WLTP consumption figure is 256 wa..."
Hyundai Ioniq
"...the vehicle. Some figures are respectable the old Hyundai Ioniq 28 kilowatt hour old 38 kilowatt hour wind knife ..."
Renault Wind
"...undai Ioniq 28 kilowatt hour old 38 kilowatt hour wind knife cars used to easily get over five miles per..."
Audi Etron
"miles per kilowatt hour without trying. This gave good distance even with a small battery whereas something like the Audi e-tron SUV might not get anywhere near that even with a bigger battery. Generally you're looking for the most efficient vehicle not necessarily the one with the biggest"
Gmc Sierra
"...a large battery in there. I'm looking at you 2025 GMC Sierra EV extended range with over 204 kilowatt hours of..."
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