The Electric Vehicle Council said the latest results on driving ranges show that EVs are more than capable of meeting the driving needs of everyday Australians, while also helping to reduce air pollution.
The comments have come after the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) released testing on the real-world battery range of five electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Council Head of Legal, Policy and Advocacy Aman Gaur welcomed the release of the AAA’s real-world testing of EVs and said it was a valuable resource for drivers considering making the switch.
“These results 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 charged,” Mr Gaur said.
“All cars, including petrol and diesel cars, often present different results in the lab compared to real-world conditions. Laboratory testing occurs in controlled conditions while real-world driving throws in all sorts of variables such as traffic flows, hills, rough roads, weather, extra passenger or luggage weight, and the unique driving styles of motorists.
“Given the unpredictable nature of driving needs, it’s inherently challenging for manufacturers to provide real-world estimates. That’s why electric vehicle manufacturers are following the rules and advertising the test results that are required by law.”
AAA’s Real-World Testing Program has separately found that 77 per cent of ICE and hybrid vehicles use more fuel in the real world than in lab tests, while one in five exceed noxious emissions limits applicable to lab tests.
“Unlike petrol and diesel cars which guzzle more fuel and pollute more than advertised, battery electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and aren’t dependent on foreign-owned fossil fuels,” Mr Gaur said.
“Range anxiety remains a major perceived barrier to switching to an EV. But the growing rollout of public chargers and the availability of real-world range data all help to ease those concerns.
“Once drivers make the switch, range anxiety quickly fades. Just as they’re used to monitoring a fuel gauge, EV drivers quickly adapt to tracking battery levels and charging at home or on the go. In fact, EV drivers often have greater awareness of their vehicle’s range, with real-time updates and recalculations constantly displayed on the dashboard.”
Separately, the EVC notes the lab range used for the BYD Atto 3 is based on a different test compared to the other vehicles. If the same test was used for BYD, the range variation would be only 12% - half the reported result. Most EV manufacturers today use the more realistic WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) range when advertising their vehicles.
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Sofie Wainwright: 0403 920 301
