The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has released the results of testing five electric vehicles in real driving conditions, showing that their range is between five and 23 percent shorter than recorded in the manufacturers’ mandatory laboratory tests.
The testing, carried out under the Commonwealth-funded Real-World Testing Program, aims to provide consumers with independent insight into vehicle performance and help them overcome concerns about range and charging — which, according to a July AAA survey, is the main reason 60 percent of potential electric car buyers hesitate to make a purchase.
The smallest deviation was recorded by the 2024 Smart #3 EV, with a real-world range of 432 km — just five percent less than the laboratory result. The 2022 Kia EV6 and the 2024 Tesla Model Y had an eight percent shorter range in real conditions, while the 2024 Tesla Model 3 achieved 441 km, which is 14 percent less than the advertised 513 km. The largest deviation was recorded by the 2023 BYD Atto 3, with a real-world range of 369 km — 23 percent less than the laboratory-tested 480 km.
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AAA CEO Michael Bradley stressed that these tests will help buyers identify which models meet expectations in practice and which do not. He noted that laboratory tests are often optimized for the best possible results, whereas the Real-World Testing Program provides a more accurate picture, using a 93 km circular route around Geelong and protocols based on European standards.
Launched in 2023 with $14 million in funding, the program has so far also tested 114 internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles, with 77 percent recording higher fuel consumption than in laboratory measurements, and one in five exceeding emission limits.
Energy portal
