WLTP range for electric cars explained: How realistic is it in your daily life?

Are you thinking of buying an electric car but aren’t sure whether you can trust the stated WLTP range?

Here, we explain in simple, straightforward terms what the WLTP range really means, how realistic it is in everyday use, and how best to approach it – with clear examples and practical tips to help you choose an electric car that truly suits your lifestyle. Let’s go.

We’ll answer these questions for you:

• What does WLTP mean?
• How realistic is the WLTP range?
• What factors influence your range?
• Are there more accurate methods than WLTP?

In a nutshell: WLTP is a comparative figure, not a real-world figure

WLTP gives you an idea of how far an electric car can travel under optimal conditions. It is particularly relevant as a comparative figure before you decide on a specific electric car. It helps you better assess which car will suit your everyday life.

However, it does not fully reflect reality. In everyday use, you should expect 10–30% less range – similar to the fuel consumption of a petrol or diesel car. After all, fuel consumption in adverts is never entirely realistic and is usually higher than stated.

Is that a cause for concern? No.

Any electric car driver can tell you: in everyday life, it doesn’t really matter whether you achieve the WLTP figure. With a bit of experience, you’ll no longer consciously charge your car as you would when filling up – it charges whilst you go about your life: whilst shopping, at the gym, at work or at home. Once you’ve got that into your system, range becomes less of a concern.

What does WLTP mean? Explained simply.

WLTP stands for ‘World Harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure’. Sounds technical – but it’s simple: the WLTP is a standardised test used to measure the range, fuel consumption and emissions of cars – whether petrol, hybrid or electric.

WLTP is a standardised test value that measures the range of electric cars under laboratory conditions – it does not represent real-world range.

Ultimately, it ensures that you retain control and a clear overview when comparing different cars. For example, you’re comparing two cars, both costing CHF 30,000: one has a range of 500 km, the other 400 km – which is the better deal?

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WLTP vs. Reality: How realistic is the WLTP range?

In short: The WLTP range is a laboratory figure and not entirely realistic – in everyday use, you’ll usually get 10–30% less range.

The WLTP test isn’t carried out on the road, but on a test bench – under ideal conditions, at exactly 23°C. The car undergoes a simulated everyday journey involving city traffic, country roads and motorways. Everything is precisely predefined; nothing is left to chance.

The result: the car’s theoretical maximum range and consumption. But theory is not the same as practice – temperatures, driving style, load, headwinds, etc. influence the real-world range of an electric car from journey to journey, from kilometre to kilometre.

The real-world range of an electric car is usually 10%–30% below the WLTP figure.

Compare this with a petrol car, where real-world fuel consumption will also differ from the manufacturer’s specifications:

A car has a 50-litre tank and, according to WLTP, a fuel consumption of 5.5 l/100 km. In theory, this would take you around 900 km. In reality, however, fuel consumption is more likely to be 7.5 l/100 km – and suddenly the range is down to around 670 km. That’s around 25% less range than stated.

Is it a problem that the WLTP range isn’t realistic?

No. The 10%–30% discrepancy might sound a bit drastic at first. Whilst you’re choosing your electric car, you should definitely bear this discrepancy in mind.

In everyday life, however, it won’t become an acute problem for you. Any experienced electric car driver can tell you: once you’ve been driving the electric car for two weeks, the WLTP range will fade into the background.

As a new electric car driver, you want to achieve the maximum range so you have to charge as infrequently as possible – but that’s the wrong way to think about it. You carry over the routine from petrol or diesel cars into electric mobility, where you make a detour to refuel.

The WLTP range isn’t relevant in everyday life.

But charging isn’t like refuelling. It isn’t an active task. You don’t have to stand next to your electric car whilst it’s charging. Instead, you charge whilst you go about your life: plugging it in whilst you’re shopping, at the gym, at work, or at home.

Once you gain more experience with your electric car and realise how you can charge it on the side, you won’t really care about the maximum WLTP range.

A rough overview: The ranges of the top 3 electric cars in Switzerland

Tesla Model Y Maximum range

• WLTP: 622 km
• Realistic: approx. 550 km.

Skoda Elroq 82 kWh Selection

• WLTP: 575 km
• Realistic: approx. 500 km.

Volvo EX30 Long Range

• WLTP: 475 km
• Realistic: approx. 420 km.

Discover the ranges of the other best-selling electric cars in Switzerland on our blog.

With WLTP, it’s similar to petrol/diesel consumption

Economical and efficient in the adverts, but in reality it’s a different story – it’s the same with combustion engines and electric cars.

With a combustion engine car, however, people have simply come to accept the discrepancy. You automatically expect higher fuel consumption. You should have exactly the same expectations with an electric car – and factor this into your decision.

A personal example: My old Fiat Abarth 595 was rated at 6.5 litres per 100km. In everyday use, I tended to get closer to 8.5 l/100 km – even when driving normally. Now I drive a Tesla Model Y. The stated WLTP range is around 550 km. In actual daily use, I get a range of about 490 km.

Which WLTP range is right for you?

Your electric car should easily cover your daily needs without you having to constantly worry about the battery level. Choose the appropriate WLTP range for your needs accordingly:

• Frequent trips abroad or commuting between Basel/Zurich, Zurich/Bern, Geneva/Lausanne etc.: approx. 500 km+ WLTP.
• Commuting from the suburbs into the city, e.g. Zug/Zurich, Aargau/Zurich, Solothurn/Basel etc.: approx. 450 km WLTP.
• Short journeys + the occasional holiday abroad: approx. 400 km WLTP.
• Trips to the shops, the gym, the nursery, etc.: approx. 300 km WLTP.

Where and how should you charge your electric car?

It’s easy even without your own wallbox – simply charge whilst you get on with other things. There are over 14,000 public charging points in Switzerland: In supermarkets, in your neighbourhood, at restaurants, at the gym, perhaps even at work – so no detour is needed.

If you’d like to find out more, you’ll find clever tips and useful tricks in our blog article on ‘Charging electric cars’.

What affects your range?

The WLTP is measured under ideal conditions. But your everyday life is different. Your actual range depends on your driving style and the conditions of the route. It’s much the same with fuel consumption in a combustion engine. The following factors affect your daily range – and ensure that it differs from the WLTP figure:

Weather and temperature:

The WLTP test is conducted at around 23°C. In reality, it is often cooler in Switzerland and your range drops slightly – e.g. in winter when temperatures are below freezing.

Terrain:

The test does not involve driving uphill or downhill. Naturally, you need more energy when driving uphill. When driving downhill, however, an electric car has a major advantage: regenerative braking. This allows you to recover a fair amount of energy whilst driving.

As a personal example: this winter, I drove down from Lenzerheide after a day’s skiing and braked almost exclusively using regenerative braking. By the time I reached Chur, I had recovered around 8% of my battery charge.

Load:

In the test, there is only one person in the car. With a family and luggage, the weight increases – and the range decreases.

Driving style and speed:

This is where you can best influence the range. The more calmly and smoothly you drive, the more energy you save. Yes, accelerating in an electric car is great fun – but sudden acceleration and high speeds on the motorway significantly reduce the range. Even a reduction of just 10 km/h can make a noticeable difference.

Are there alternatives to the WLTP?

The WLTP is regarded as the standard for electric car range, particularly in Europe. All cars are tested under the same conditions. This gives you a reliable point of comparison, whether it’s an Alfa Romeo or a VW.


Globally, however, there are other methods for measuring range and consumption.

EPA range (USA): considered more realistic than the WLTP figure.
The measured figures are ultimately reduced by a flat rate of around 20–30% – which is why the EPA range is often closer to what you can expect in everyday use.

CLTC range (China): more optimistic than the WLTP.
The measured figures are usually even higher than the WLTP range and are considered less realistic.

Our tip: When comparing electric cars, also check the EPA figures if they are available. This will give you a more complete picture.

Conclusion: Understanding WLTP = making better decisions

If you understand the WLTP properly, you’ll make the right decision when choosing your electric car.

The WLTP range is not a promise for everyday use, but a comparative figure. That is exactly what it is for. In real life, expect around 10–30% less range. Factors such as driving style, speed or weather play a significant role in this variation.

Find the right electric car for your everyday life now – on Gowago.

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