What is the real-world range of an electric car?

Real-world range is how far an EV actually travels on a full charge in everyday driving — and it's usually noticeably lower than the official figure quoted by the manufacturer.

Why the gap exists:

• Official figures (like WLTP in the UK/EU) are measured under controlled, standardised conditions that don't fully reflect everyday driving
• Cold weather can reduce range significantly, sometimes by 20–30%, due to battery chemistry and cabin heating demands
• Motorway driving at higher speeds generally uses more energy than the mixed-cycle conditions used in official testing
• Driving style, payload, and use of climate control all affect real-world efficiency

A practical way to think about it:

A reasonable rule of thumb is to expect somewhere around 10–20% less than the official WLTP figure in mixed real-world driving, and more like 25–30% less in cold weather or sustained motorway use. If you're buying a used EV, the official range figure for that specific model and battery size is a starting point, not a guarantee — and battery health can also affect achievable range on an older or higher-mileage EV, which is worth factoring in separately from the headline spec.