EV range in the real world: what the brochures don't say

Official range figures come from a lab test. On a cold British motorway at 70mph, expect 20–30% less than the number in the brochure.

Heat pumps make a genuine difference in winter, and cars with 800-volt architectures charge dramatically faster on road trips.

The good news: real-world range has improved hugely. A modern family EV comfortably covers a 200-mile day, and the UK's rapid-charging network keeps growing.

Our advice: buy for your 95% journeys and hire or rapid-charge for the exceptions. Check our EV listings with battery-health notes in the description.