Every electric vehicle sold in the UK comes with an official range figure. And every EV owner will tell you they never quite achieve it. Here is what those numbers actually mean and how to calculate the range you will genuinely get before committing to a purchase.
What WLTP actually is
WLTP — Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure is the standardised test used to produce official range and efficiency figures for all new vehicles sold in the UK and Europe. It replaced the older, even less accurate NEDC test in 2017.
The WLTP test is conducted in a laboratory under controlled conditions a fixed temperature, no wind, a specific speed profile, and no accessories running. It is more realistic than the old test but it still does not reflect real-world driving.
Why you will not achieve the WLTP figure
Several factors reduce real-world range below the WLTP figure:
Cold weather reduces battery efficiency significantly in temperatures below 5°C, range can drop by 20 to 30% or more.
Motorway driving at 70mph uses energy at a much higher rate than the mixed speed WLTP test.
Running the heater or air conditioning draws power from the battery. A full load of passengers or heavy cargo adds weight and reduces efficiency. And on a used EV, battery degradation means the battery holds less energy than it did when new further reducing available range.
A practical calculation
Take the advertised WLTP range and multiply by 0.78. This gives a conservative but realistic estimate of what you will achieve in typical mixed driving conditions. For cold weather driving, multiply by 0.65.
If the result comfortably covers your regular daily journeys with 20% of battery remaining as a comfortable buffer, the car works for your situation. If it is marginal, consider a model with a larger battery.
