Despite the world moving towards electric mobility, the feeling of range anxiety is still very real for many considering the switch to EVs. While governments are keen to hammer in infrastructure in order to bolster the adoption of EVs, real-world range is still a question mark to many of us — more so, what happens when zero means zero.
To give us some answers, Carwow’s Mat Watson decided to take a diverse range of EVs on offer, driving each to empty to see how far it takes and what happens when the juice eventually gets used up. Lined up was a Ford Mustang Mach E, Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX3, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Skoda Enyaq iV.
The test comprised mostly of motorway miles — a slightly harsher challenge for EVs, with fewer opportunities for regenerative braking to claw back some charge. Unsurprisingly, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, with the smaller battery pack, was the first to fall after 228 miles (365 km), achieving only 83 percent of its claimed mileage. Perhaps slightly concerning for those caught short of a charger in a Mach-E, the car reportedly ground to a clunking halt and couldn’t be moved afterward.
Also Read: BMW i4 and iX Get EPA-Rated To Up To 324 Miles Of Range
Next up was the Audi, doing 234 miles (374 km), closely followed by the Ioniq 5 with 237 miles (379 km). Both cars coasted to a standstill, although when the Hyundai lost power, it automatically engaged park. Although not the first to drain its electrons, the Q4 e-tron was only able to offer 78 percent of its claimed range, while the Ioniq 5 achieved 83 percent.
Coming close to the factory figures was the BMW iX3, with 257 miles (411 km) at 3.6 mi/kWh, completing 91 percent of the claimed range. Meanwhile, the Skoda Enyaq iV covered 264 miles (422 km). Interestingly in comparison to all other EVs tested here, the Enyaq iV offered a special maneuvering-only mode. Although restricting the driver to 4 mph (6 km/h), it allowed the car to move around before completely dying.
The winner was the Kia EV6, with 273 miles (437 km). Offering 3.7mi/kWh, it tied with the iX3 for claimed range accuracy, with 91 percent of range achieved.
For a detailed comparison of all vehicles tested, take a look at the full video below.