Latest news with #drivingrange
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Nat Barr calls out EV false advertising
Published: | Nat Barr has called for a crackdown on false advertising after it was revealed several electric vehicle brands had misled motorists about the driving range of their cars. The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) tested five EVs in its Real-World Testing Program and found some models drove up to 111km less on the road than they did in laboratory testing. The 2023 BYD Atto 3 was the worst performer, with a driving range of 369km on a single charge — 23 per cent less than the 480km recorded in its lab testing. The 2024 Tesla Model 3 had a real-world range of 441km, which was 14 per cent less than the 513km it achieved in the lab. The 2022 Kia EV6 and the 2024 Tesla Model Y both had driving ranges of eight per cent shorter than their lab tests. The best performer was the 2024 Smart #3, which logged a real-world driving range of 432km, which was five per cent below its compulsory lab test. Barr asked Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli on Thursday morning if companies should be forced to be more forthright about their cars' ability in the real world. 'Just looking at the reasons why you get less than advertised on the battery,' Barr said. 'Hot weather can change it, cold weather can change it, driving on different terrain can change it, stopping and starting can change it, braking can change it. 'A lot can change the amount you get from the standardised testing. Basically, everything can change it. 'Do you think they should maybe change what they advertise?' Natoli said the lack of accuracy about the range of EVs was concerning for regional owners and that 'range anxiety is a real thing'. 'I guess, for the moment, it is a wait and see with that, particularly when you get outside of the cities, it's a real danger,' she said. The AAA found last month that 60 per cent of likely EV buyers flagged range and recharging as the main reasons that might prevent them from buying an EV. 'As more EVs enter our market, our testing will help consumers understand which new market entrants measure up on battery range,' AAA managing director Michael Bradley said. The AAA said Aussies deserved to know how vehicles performed on roads. The Real-World Testing Program has tested 114 fuel-powered cars, vans, and utes since it began in 2023, finding that more than 77 per cent exceeded fuel consumption recorded in lab tests.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Nat Barr takes aim at huge electric vehicle lie that has been fed to Aussies as she calls for a major change
Nat Barr has called for a crackdown on false advertising after it was revealed several electric vehicle brands had misled motorists about the driving range of their cars. The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) tested five EVs in its Real-World Testing Program and found some models drove up to 111km less on the road than they did in laboratory testing. The 2023 BYD Atto 3 was the worst performer, with a driving range of 369km on a single charge — 23 per cent less than the 480km recorded in its lab testing. The 2024 Tesla Model 3 had a real-world range of 441km, which was 14 per cent less than the 513km it achieved in the lab. The 2022 Kia EV6 and the 2024 Tesla Model Y both had driving ranges of eight per cent shorter than their lab tests. The best performer was the 2024 Smart #3, which logged a real-world driving range of 432km, which was five per cent below its compulsory lab test. Barr asked Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli on Thursday morning if companies should be forced to be more forthright about their cars' ability in the real world. 'Just looking at the reasons why you get less than advertised on the battery,' Barr said. 'Hot weather can change it, cold weather can change it, driving on different terrain can change it, stopping and starting can change it, braking can change it. 'A lot can change the amount you get from the standardised testing. Basically, everything can change it. 'Do you think they should maybe change what they advertise?' Natoli said the lack of accuracy about the range of EVs was concerning for regional owners and that 'range anxiety is a real thing'. 'I guess, for the moment, it is a wait and see with that, particularly when you get outside of the cities, it's a real danger,' she said. The AAA found last month that 60 per cent of likely EV buyers flagged range and recharging as the main reasons that might prevent them from buying an EV. 'As more EVs enter our market, our testing will help consumers understand which new market entrants measure up on battery range,' AAA managing director Michael Bradley said. The AAA said Aussies deserved to know how vehicles performed on roads. The Real-World Testing Program has tested 114 fuel-powered cars, vans, and utes since it began in 2023, finding that more than 77 per cent exceeded fuel consumption recorded in lab tests. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries found that EV sales have stalled, remaining below eight per cent of new vehicle sales in 2025. It's the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles that have exploded, with sales up 183 per cent in the past 12 months.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
EV real-world range testing finds popular models falling short by up to 23pc less than advertised
A popular Chinese-made electric vehicle has a real-world driving range of nearly one quarter less than advertised under laboratory conditions, according to testing conducted by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA). The AAA on Wednesday released results of five EVs from the latest round of its Real-World Testing Program, which found driving ranges between 5 per cent and 23 per cent less in real driving conditions than recorded in mandatory lab tests conducted by the manufacturers. The 2023 BYD Atto 3 was the worst performer with a driving range of 369km on a single charge — 23 per cent less than the 480km recorded in its lab test. The 2024 Tesla Model 3 had a real-world range of 441km, 14 per cent less than the 513km achieved in the lab. The 2022 Kia EV6 and the 2024 Tesla Model Y both had driving ranges of 8 per cent less than their lab tests — 484km for the EV6 and 490km for the Model Y. The best performer was the 2024 Smart #3, which recorded a real-world driving range of 432km, only 5 per cent below its mandatory lab test. Polling conducted by the AAA last month found 60 per cent of likely EV buyers identified range and recharging as 'the main concerns or hesitations that might prevent you from choosing an electric vehicle (not a hybrid) for your next car purchase'. 'As more EVs enter our market, our testing will help consumers understand which new market entrants measure up on battery range,' AAA managing director Michael Bradley said in a statement. 'Our program will bring confidence to Australian fleets and families looking to buy an EV.' BYD and Tesla have been contacted for comment. Speaking on Seven's Sunrise on Thursday, host Nat Barr questioned whether manufacturers should be forced to be more upfront. 'Just looking at the reasons why you get less than advertised on the battery — hot weather can change it, cold weather can change it, driving on different terrain can change it, stopping and starting can change it, braking can change it,' Barr said. 'A lot can change the amount [of power] you get from the standardised testing. Basically, everything can change it. Do you think they should maybe change what they advertise?' Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said while the technology was improving 'in regional areas it's a really big concern, and the range anxiety is a real thing'. 'So, I guess for the moment, it is a wait and see with that, particularly when you get outside of the cities it's a real danger,' she said. 'They offer the ability to drive short distances on electric power while retaining the flexibility and range of a conventional engine.' It comes after similar test results released by the AAA this week showed 25 of 30 cars consumed more fuel than advertised. The Real-World Testing Program, funded by the federal government to the tune of $14 million, has tested 114 fuel-powered cars, vans, and utes since it began in August 2023, finding that more than 77 per cent exceeded fuel consumption recorded in lab tests. One in five also exceeded noxious emissions limits from lab tests. Mr Bradley said the program had established that consumers could not always rely on a carmaker's laboratory tests as an indicator of real-world performance. The program was created following the 2015 Volkswagen scandal, when it was revealed the German auto giant had been optimising its vehicles for laboratory performance to meet emissions regulations targets. The Real-World Testing Program uses a 93km circuit in and around Geelong in Victoria. It uses strict testing protocols based on European regulations to ensure results are repeatable and to minimise the influence of human factors such as driving style and changing traffic flows. The program measures EV range by quantifying both the energy needed to drive a vehicle around the test route, and the energy needed to recharge each vehicle's fully depleted battery. It also measures each vehicle's energy consumption, which determines the cost of operating the vehicle, and which carmakers are legally obliged to report at point of sale. BYD still trails behind Tesla in the battery electric only market, with 8556 units sold in the first six months of the year across its Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal and Sealion 7 models. Tesla sold 14,146 of its Model 3 and Model Y in the same period. Including BYD's plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), the Shark 6 and the Sealion 6, the Chinese manufacturer sold 23,335 total units. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) notes EV sales have stalled, remaining below 8 per cent of new vehicle sales in 2025, while PHEVs have experienced rapid growth with sales up 183 per cent year-to-date. 'With more than 50 models available in 2025, plug-in hybrids have emerged as an important transition technology for many Australians, particularly those in regional areas or those with limited access to charging,' FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said in a statement this week.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Some electric cars fall short of claimed range by up to 23%, Australian motoring group finds
A government-funded program to test the true performance of vehicles has found the driving range of five popular electric cars is between 5% and 23% lower than results from laboratory testing. The Australian Automobile Association tested vehicles from Tesla, BYD, Kia and Smart – the first EVs to be put through its four-year, federally funded Real World Testing Program to give consumers more accurate information on vehicle performance. The extended range variant of the BYD Atto3 had the largest discrepancy, according to the AAA, with a real-world range of 369km, 23% lower than the 480km achieved in laboratory testing. The Smart #3 had the lowest, with only a 5% difference. The Tesla Model 3 had a real-world range 14% lower than the lab test. Tesla's Model Y and the Kia EV6 both had a real world range 8% lower. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Despite showing a gap between lab and real-world results, the AAA and electric vehicle industry representatives said the results should reduce range anxiety among consumers looking to buy an EV. The Electric Vehicle Council industry body's head of legal, policy and advocacy, Aman Gaur, said the AAA's results should 'give confidence that EVs have more than enough range for everyday Australians'. 'The average Australian drives 33km per day. This means that an EV with a range of 350km can be driven for more than 10 days before needing to be recharged,' he said. The results come after the AAA released a summary last month of tests on 114 petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles that showed 77% used more fuel than advertised. One in five also broke noxious emissions that were advertised from lab tests. Carmakers advertise the results of government-mandated laboratory tests on emissions, fuel efficiency and, in the case of EVs, their energy consumption and range with a fully charged battery. The government's Green Vehicle Guide lists the results for all vehicles. AAA's managing director, Michael Bradley, said the Real World Testing Program had found consumers couldn't always rely on the laboratory tests as an indicator of real-world performance. 'As more EVs enter our market, our testing will help consumers understand which new market entrants measure up on battery range,' he said. Vehicles tested in the AAA program are taken on a 93km circuit of urban, rural and highway roads around Geelong in Victoria using protocols based on European regulations. For electric vehicles, the program also measures how much electricity is needed to run the vehicle. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Gaur from the EVC said laboratory tests were in controlled conditions while real-world driving 'throws in all sorts of variables: traffic flows, hills, rough roads, weather, extra passenger or luggage weight, and the unique driving styles of motorists.' He added: 'Given the unpredictable nature of driving, it's inherently challenging for manufacturers to provide real-world estimates. Electric vehicle manufacturers are following the rules and advertising the test results that are required by law.' John Kananghinis, a spokesperson for LSH Auto, the importer and retailer of Smart EVs in Australia, said it was inevitable the 'stringent testing criteria of the AAA' would give different results than in a laboratory. 'To achieve such a low 5% variation is, we consider, a testament to the leading battery and overall EV technology that underpins the smart brand,' he said. 'We thank AAA for the work they undertook to give consumers a real-world view of the performance of EVs that, hopefully, further alleviates any residual range anxiety and helps to act as incentive to experience the future of urban motoring.' Battery and plug-in hybrid cars accounted for 12% of new car sales in the first half of 2025, up from 9.6% for the same period last year, EVC data shows. Guardian Australia has also contacted Tesla, BYD and Kia for comment.
Wall Street Journal
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Wall Street Journal
Who's Got the Time for EVs?
Familiarity is one reason drivers aren't swooning over electric vehicles (Letters, July 2). Time is another. A driver can put enough fuel in an internal-combustion vehicle within five minutes to give it 400 miles of range. Chevy's 2024 Silverado was rated the fastest-charging EV, and it takes an hour to recharge to 400 miles of range and 25 minutes to recharge to 150 miles. Who can afford that, let alone the infrastructure to support it? The Journal's Dan Neil writes that something has to give 'if automobility is to remain a defining feature in American society.' Don't count on it being gasoline. Stuart Creque
