Real Range Calculator
When the WLTP range seems off…
An EV's WLTP range rating is great for comparing with another EV; but it's not always like the type of driving you'll actually do. Because no one drives like a lab test, your 'real-world' EV range is often lower.
This calculator will estimate the kind of range you might achieve for any EV based on local temperature and the type of driving you do.
Adjust the sliders for driving and temperature to get an idea of what sort of range you'll achieve.
What is range? The distance you can drive on a single charge.
Real Range Calculator
Why is 'real-world' range different from WLTP range?
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) is the official lab test used so every EV can be compared under identical conditions. Each car follows the same circuit at mild temperatures, with:
- No heating or air‑conditioning running
- Only brief high‑speed sections
If you drive in similar conditions: urban speeds (50–80 km/h) and mild weather (around 23 °C) – you can expect to match the WLTP figure.
How to use this calculator
Adjust driving style to your typical usage.
- If all your driving, every day was on a state highway (or a motorway that wasn’t stuck in a traffic jam) — then you’d shift the slider all the way to the right.
- If all your driving was down to the shops, the school run, and some cruising on an 80 km/h road – then you’d shift the slider to the left.
High speeds really do increase energy consumption in an EV.
What about hills? Generally what goes up must come down, and EVs are exceptionally good at reharvesting energy while going down a hill. This is something you can only figure out through experience.
Adjust for temperature
While all cars use more energy (petrol / diesel / electricity) when it's cold, battery EVs can be significantly affected by colder temperatures.
Also, the WLTP test is carried out at 23 degrees, so any temperature colder than that tends to lower vehicle range.
Battery State of Health
If the EV is an older model, its battery may not hold a charge as well as it did when new. This can lead to a reduced range.
If the EV is no longer available new (used only), an extra field is shown allowing adjustments to State of Health (SoH). More dealers are beginning to test EV batteries, providing an SoH estimate. If you have a number, adjust the slider to get a more accurate estimate of range.
Can some EVs still have 100% SoH after a number of years?. Yes. All EV batteries have a buffer (typically around 3-5%). Over time, this artificial buffer may be reduced, so as the battery degrades the buffer is made available. This is why some brands (Kia, Hyundai, for example) will often report 100% SoH for many years.
See more about battery life.
Calculator limitations
- The algorithm does not take into account things like heat pumps and aerodynamic differences. It’s a general formula that applies the usable battery capacity and WLTP range and consumption values against a model from real-world tests.
- If your EV has impressive aerodynamics, it might do slightly better at higher speeds.
If your EV has a heat pump rather than a traditional resistive heater, it will use less energy to heat the cabin - therefore leading to slightly better range during winter. Either way, cabin heating costs energy (more than an ICE car that is able to make use of waste heat from the combustion engine).
