Before ranking two electric cars by advertised range, check that the figures describe comparable vehicles and tests. A number copied from another country’s website may not answer the same question as the local specification in front of you.
Write down the model year, battery version, drivetrain, wheel specification, distance unit and named test standard for each car. Also record whether the figure is a combined estimate, a city figure or a manufacturer target awaiting confirmation. Leave missing fields blank rather than guessing.
Understand what the label represents
The US Environmental Protection Agency explains that EV range is tested in a laboratory on a dynamometer. Its label calculation combines adjusted city and highway results. A combined number therefore should not be presented as a guaranteed distance for a particular motorway trip.
EPA also explains that its MPGe efficiency figures include charging losses. That makes it important to distinguish an electricity-use figure measured at the wall from a dashboard consumption reading when doing your own calculations.
Keep units and methods separate
Converting miles into kilometres changes the unit, not the testing procedure. Do not apply an invented universal percentage to turn one test standard into another. Instead, look for figures reported under the same standard for the exact versions you are considering.
For a simple unit example, 250 miles is approximately 402 kilometres. That calculation does not establish that a 250-mile-rated car and a 402-kilometre-rated car were tested in the same way, or that they will travel equally far on your route.
Build a separate journey plan
The Australian Government’s EV guidance notes that actual range depends on driving style, speed, terrain, weather, load and heating or air-conditioning use. A shopping comparison and a departure-day estimate therefore serve different purposes.
For a regular journey, record distance, expected conditions and reliable charging alternatives. Use the vehicle’s own route-planning tools and instructions, and reassess the plan as conditions change. Avoid a fixed safety margin copied from an unrelated model without considering the route.
Our cold-weather EV guide addresses seasonal preparation, while the charging-time guide helps compare the stops themselves.
A useful shortlist is not simply the biggest advertised number. It is a comparison with matching assumptions, followed by a practical charging plan for the journeys you need to make.
