• 27 EVs were pitted in a real-world range test across Norway to see how close they come to their claimed WLTP range.
• The Lucid Air comfortably won for sheer range, but it was also the furthest from its WLTP range number.
• Over half of the vehicles tested exceeded their WLTP claim.

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Group range tests are very insightful because they show how the range of multiple EVs compares when driven on the exact same roads in the same conditions. Out of a total of 27 electric vehicles, the Lucid Air drove the longest distance, but it also had the biggest discrepancy between its observed range and the WLTP claim.

Norway’s Norwegian Automobile Federation, or NAF (kind of like that country’s AAA) had a Lucid Air Grand Touring in its annual summer range test for the very first time. It comfortably beat the other 26 cars after traveling 514 miles (828.6 kilometers) on one charge. That’s in line with other independent tests, but it’s way off its claimed WLTP range of 596 miles (960 km). The difference is 81 miles (131 km) or 13.7%.

While we know WLTP produces higher range numbers than the EPA test cycle used in the U.S., we weren’t expecting the undisputed range king, the Lucid Air, to be so far off the mark.

The Lucid Air Grand Touring has a big 118 kWh battery pack, which gives it an EPA range of 516 miles with the smaller 19-inch wheels (that were also on the car used in the group range test in Norway). It’s also known for its stellar efficiency, unmatched by any vehicle of its size.

Photo by: NAF

There were plenty of cars that took part in the test that actually exceeded their WLTP number. The leader in this respect was the Tesla Model Y, which drove 405 miles (652 km) on one charge, exceeding its claimed range number by 41 miles (66 km) or 11.3% more. The Model Y’s posh rival from China, the Zeekr 7X, also went further than its official range, driving 368 miles (593 km), which is 32 miles (52 km) more than the WLTP claim.

The Tesla Model 3 recorded the second-highest range of the test, driving 448 miles (721 km) before it ran out. That’s 11 miles (19 km) more than the official WLTP number for the compact sedan in long-range rear-wheel-drive guise.

Other cars that exceeded their WLTP range were the BYD Tang, Peugeot e-5008, MGS5, VW ID.7 GTX Tourer, Polestar 4, BMW iX, BYD Sealion 7, Lotus Emeya, Opel Grandland, Mercedes-Benz G580, Voyah Courage and Porsche Macan EV. The popular Skoda Elroq, a rising star on the European EV scene, was almost able to match its claimed range of 263 miles (424 km), stopping 1.2 miles (2 km) short.

NAF performed the range test over two days, and all the cars were driven on the same route at the same speed until they stopped and had to be loaded onto a flatbed. The route includes fast and slow roads going over hills and through valleys, starting from just above sea level and reaching an altitude of almost 3,280 feet (1,000 meters).

Outside temperature has a big impact on EV range. In this test, it varied between 44.6°F and 62.6°F (7°C and 17°C). They note that this is not a scientific test but rather a “snapshot” of what you can expect these cars to achieve in real-world driving. The WLTP test cycle is performed in a controlled environment with a set temperature of 73.4°F (23°C) and without air conditioning or heating turned on, which goes a long way toward explaining the large discrepancy between WLTP and real-world numbers.

But does this mean a Lucid Air could potentially nudge 620 miles (1,000 km) if driven on a similar route at 73.4°F with everything off? Maybe with tape over its panel gaps and some other aerodynamic tricks, it could potentially do it, although it would be a grueling task for the driver to perform such a range test without any climate functions inside the car.