Four electric cars from Ford, Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes participated in a test to determine which long-range vehicle could travel the most before stopping. With more automakers jumping into the EV market, consumers aren't as lacking for choice as they were just a few years ago. It's also common to find a “Long-Range” or “Extended Range” among today's crop of EVs. Such models tackle the issue of range anxiety by allowing drivers to take long trips without worrying about plugging into a charger for a few hundred miles. Nowadays, more and more EVs can offer an EPA-estimated range of between 300 and 400 miles.
Carwow, a UK-based platform where consumers can sell and buy cars, shot a YouTube video of four long-range electric models to test which one could travel the longest on a single charge. Carwow tested the cars by driving them until their batteries got exhausted. However, regular EV owners should know that it's ill-advised to drive an EV until it runs out of juice. The vehicles involved were Ford's Mustang Mach-E, the Tesla Model 3, the BMW iX, and the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The Mercedes won the competition with a range of 324 miles before stopping. Meanwhile, BMW, Tesla, and Ford placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively.
How The Test Went Down
The test involved driving the four EVs in their normal modes from Oxford to Scotland with cruise control activated to maintain speed. Carwow also mentioned the rated range of these vehicles. The Mach-E had a claimed range of 372 miles, behind the BMW and Tesla at 380 miles and 389 miles, respectively. The Mercedes EQS has the highest-rated range of 464 miles. Of course, these ranges are usually in ideal conditions and with optimal driving standards. So the range a user actually gets is quite often lower than the advertised numbers.
After completing a full charge, the Mach-E’s infotainment screen showed an available range of 315 miles — 57 miles lower than publicized. The Mercedes and BMW showed slightly higher drops, with estimated ranges of 393 miles and 303 miles, respectively. The Tesla was closest to its advertised range at 345 miles. The EQS finally rolled to a stop after 324 miles, accounting for 72 percent of its claimed range. The iX drove for 303 miles (82 percent of the estimate), and the Model 3 managed 299 miles (75 percent of the official range). At 288 miles, the Mach-E traveled the shortest distance (77 percent of the claimed range).
The Tesla Model 3 was the most efficient in terms of energy consumption, averaging 4.1 miles per kW. Meanwhile, the BMW iX had the worst energy efficiency rating, with 2.1 mi/kW. The Mercedes and Ford were middle of the pack with 3.2 mi/kW and 3.3 mi/kW, respectively. While the test shows off an impressive range, drivers will still need to plan charging stops ahead of long road trips. It's also important to remember that an electric car's driving range can be affected by many factors, including battery temperature and weather conditions.
Source: Carwow/YouTube