Chevrolet Bolt at EPA’s National Fuels and Emissions Laboratory
How far an electric car can go on a single charge is one of the most closely watched numbers in the automotive world.
The official government process used to test and certify these ranges is potentially flawed.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been testing vehicles since 1971, but it didn’t start testing electric vehicles until 2012. Electric vehicle technology is still fairly new and is changing rapidly. EPA engineers say it’s an exciting time, but it also feels like the “Wild West.”
The EPA only tests a small portion of the total fleet. The fact that it can test any vehicle at any time forces automakers to meet EPA standards.
Some in the auto industry say the EPA’s ratings are more accurate than those issued by other government agencies, at least for U.S. roads. But independent groups found that their own tests yielded results that differed from the official EPA rating range.
Critics say the agency’s labels are inconsistent with those used for gas-fired vehicles, in part because the tests don’t take into account how people actually drive. The range on the label looks larger than it actually is. There are also ways automakers can use to inflate their range numbers.
Watch the video to learn more.
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