Real-world range vs WLTP, explained
Contents
Every electric car is advertised with a WLTP range, and almost no one achieves it in normal driving. That is not a fault and it is not dishonest - it is just what a standardised lab test measures. This guide explains the gap, and how ShamAuto closes it with a single, cautious adjustment you can rely on: WLTP minus 17 percent.
What WLTP actually measures
WLTP (the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) is a standard laboratory cycle run under controlled temperature and a fixed speed profile. Its job is comparability: it lets you line up two cars on the same yardstick. What it is not is a prediction of your Tuesday commute in January. Real roads, real speeds and real weather all pull the achievable figure below the lab number.
Why real driving returns less
A few everyday factors account for most of the gap:
- Speed. Motorway cruising uses far more energy than the gentle test profile.
- Temperature. Cold weather reduces battery performance and adds heating load.
- Terrain and load. Hills, headwinds and a full car all cost range.
- Driving style. Hard acceleration drains the battery faster than smooth progress.
Our method: WLTP minus 17 percent
Rather than quietly repeat the optimistic badge number, ShamAuto shows a real-world range estimate on every listing, calculated as the WLTP figure reduced by 17 percent. It is deliberately conservative and, crucially, applied identically to every car - so the comparison between two listings stays fair. If a car beats the estimate in your hands, that is a pleasant surprise rather than a disappointment.
Here is the adjustment across some common used models - from the Nissan Leaf to the Tesla Model 3 - using their catalogue WLTP figures:
| Model and battery | WLTP range | Real-world estimate (WLTP - 17%) |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf 40 kWh | 270 km | 224 km |
| Nissan Leaf e+ 62 kWh | 385 km | 320 km |
| Hyundai Kona Electric 64 kWh | 484 km | 402 km |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Pro 58 kWh | 425 km | 353 km |
| MG MG4 64 kWh LR | 450 km | 374 km |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD (Highland) | 678 km | 563 km |
Using the estimate to choose a car
Work out your real daily distance, add a margin for cold weather, and treat the real-world estimate as your floor. If the cautious figure already covers your day, the car comfortably suits you - and you can then weight your choice towards battery health and price rather than chasing the biggest number on a badge.
For how the cold specifically affects things, read EV winter range in Ireland. For how range and battery health fit together, start with the battery health and real range pillar.