Got range anxiety? Here’s how far you can expect to be able to travel in the latest electric models on sale in showrooms right now
Following Theresa May’s announcement this week that Britain will become the first major economy to put into law a net zero emissions target for 2050, motorists will be wondering what that means for the cars they’ll be driving in the not too distant future.
Many will be querying if an electric car is really suitable for their needs, especially when it comes to long-distance journeys.
Fortunately, real world tests are already proving the ranges of electric models that are on sale today – and this is how far they can go, according to the measurements.
What Car? has been publishing real range figures for electric cars for almost a year.
It conducts controlled and repeatable assessments of each plug-in model on sale in the UK to compare what manufacturers tell you about battery range and what is really achievable when driving on the road.
There are some big discrepancies between the ‘official’ and real-world ranges, and there’s a staggering 202-mile differences in the ranges of the best and worst new electric cars you can buy in showrooms today.
What Car? also calculates the cost to fully charge each model and the price per mile using an average electricity rate of 12p per kilowatt hour.
Prices listed for each model are inclusive of the £3,500 low-emission vehicles (OLEV) grant subsidy currently provided for electric cars by the government.
Here’s a run-down of 14 cars you can buy in showrooms now, from the lowest real range in miles to the highest…
JUST HOW FAR WILL YOUR ELECTRIC CAR REALLY TAKE YOU? THE LATEST MODELS RANKED BY RANGE
14. Smart ForFour EQ
What Car? Real range: 57 miles
![The Smart ForFour has the shortest range of any electric car What Car? has tested so far](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14744202-7137701-image-a-33_1560433556303.jpg)
The Smart ForFour has the shortest range of any electric car What Car? has tested so far
Price new: from £18,190
The Smart ForFour isn’t the most accomplished electric car.
In fact, it has the shortest range of any plug-in model What Car? has tested so far.
Small and nippy, it’s suitable for those who only want to do short journeys in towns and cities.
Its merits as being a one and only car in your family are restricted by its puny 57-mile range.
13. Smart ForTwo EQ
What Car? Real range: 59 miles
![The Smart ForTwo is aimed at those living in the city. With a maximum range of 59 miles, you won't want to venture to far from the metropolis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/14/08/14744188-7137701-The_Smart_ForTwo_is_aimed_at_those_living_in_the_city_With_a_max-a-1_1560498946887.jpg)
The Smart ForTwo is aimed at those living in the city. With a maximum range of 59 miles, you won’t want to venture to far from the metropolis
Price new: from £19,835
Smart’s smallest model – the ForTwo – is also available with an electric drivetrain, but the battery range is almost as disappointing as the larger ForFour.
What Car? tested the Cabrio (not yet the Coupe) and found it will do just 59 miles on a full charge – a meager two miles more than its bigger sibling.
Despite being dinkier it’s pricier than the four-door model.
12. Volkswagen e-Up
What Car? Real range: 66 miles
![The e-Up is Volkswagen's answer to a small electric model using a car that's already available in its range](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14744196-7137701-image-a-51_1560434219606.jpg)
The e-Up is Volkswagen’s answer to a small electric model using a car that’s already available in its range
Price new: from £19,615
The Up is a great city car and the addition of electric power makes it an even better option – as long as you’re limiting yourself predominantly to the city.
With a 66-mile range, it’s not going to be all that practical if you’ve got a commute than exceeds 30 miles.
It’s also almost twice the price of the cheapest petrol-powered Up – even with the plug-in car grant – which costs £10,080.
11. Hyundai Ioniq
What Car? Real range: 117 miles
![Hyundai's Ioniq is available as a full electric, plug-in hybrid or conventional hybrid model. The battery-electric-only version has just over 100 miles of range](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14744194-7137701-image-a-52_1560434280212.jpg)
Hyundai’s Ioniq is available as a full electric, plug-in hybrid or conventional hybrid model. The battery-electric-only version has just over 100 miles of range
Price new: from £26,745
The official range is still based on the old (and out of date) NEDC test cycle, which is why the Ioniq falls so short of the claims.
For a £27,000 family car, it will come down to personal requirements if 117 miles of range is enough.
In the Ioniq’s defence the interior is very smart.
And if you don’t want a full-electric model there is a hybrid or plug-in hybrid variant.
10. Volkswagen e-Golf
What Car? Real range: 117 miles
![The e-Golf will soon be replaced by Volkswagen's new I.D.3, which should blitz this 117 mile range](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/14/08/14744192-7137701-The_e_Golf_will_soon_be_replaced_by_Volkswagen_s_new_I_D_3_which-a-2_1560498946935.jpg)
The e-Golf will soon be replaced by Volkswagen’s new I.D.3, which should blitz this 117 mile range
Price new: from £29,230
Like the Hyundai Ioniq, the e-Golf’s claimed range is based on the old NEDC cycle.
That said, 117 miles of battery life from a car that costs almost £30,000 inclusive of a £3,500 discount is a little disappointing.
The biggest compliment you can pay the e-Golf is that it feels like any other Golf – premium.
VW’s forthcoming I.D.3 will be its replacement, and will be a far more capable model.
9. Nissan Leaf
What Car? Real range: 128 miles
![The Nissan Leaf is one of the best-selling electric cars yet. There's one available with a claimed 239-mile range that should go further than the small-capacity version tested here](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14744190-7137701-image-m-55_1560434362915.jpg)
The Nissan Leaf is one of the best-selling electric cars yet. There’s one available with a claimed 239-mile range that should go further than the small-capacity version tested here
Price new: from £24,495
The first-generation Leaf was the electric car to have half a decade ago, but this second-generation version hasn’t yet proved as popular.
There’s another version available with a higher-capacity battery that has a claimed 239-mile range, though the one tested here is a more limited 168-mile option.
What Car? says you should expect 128 miles from a full charge in the less rangier of the two.
8. Renault Zoe
What Car? Real range: 146 miles
![The Zoe is unique as you can buy the car and lease the battery. It's Renault's approach to help customers get over the idea of battery life](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/14/08/14744204-7137701-The_Zoe_is_unique_as_you_can_buy_the_car_and_lease_the_battery_I-a-3_1560498946942.jpg)
The Zoe is unique as you can buy the car and lease the battery. It’s Renault’s approach to help customers get over the idea of battery life
Price new: from £17,720
The Zoe is an interesting prospect for car buyers as it offers the choice of either owning the battery supplied with the vehicle or buying the car and leasing the battery.
Either way, the Zoe is one of the most accomplished small electric car on the market at the moment, capable of fairly long-distance travel on top of its town-driving credentials.
In our opinion it’s the best value at the moment.
7. BMW i3
What Car? Real range: 165 miles
![The i3 has been around since 2014 but still looks and feels light years ahead thanks to its quirky cabin](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/15/14744212-7137701-image-a-58_1560434801802.jpg)
The i3 has been around since 2014 but still looks and feels light years ahead thanks to its quirky cabin
Price new: from £31,680
The i3 has been on sale since 2014 and BMW has upgraded it in recent years to provide more power and – importantly – extra range.
With this latest 120Ah battery, it can manage lengthy stints at the wheel between charges.
A unique design, gorgeous interior and funky coach-door system explain why it’s the third best-selling electric car ever after the Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf.
6. Audi e-tron
What Car? Real range: 196 miles
![Priced from almost £70,000, you'll need deep pockets if you want Audi's new e-tron SUV](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/15/14744216-7137701-image-a-60_1560435100849.jpg)
Priced from almost £70,000, you’ll need deep pockets if you want Audi’s new e-tron SUV
Price new: from £68,020
This is where the cars start to grow in size, range and – certainly in the case of the Audi e-tron – price.
Costing just shy of £70,000, it’s not cheap.
In a production-car first, customers can choose if they want to have wing mirrors or benefit from a little extra aerodynamic performance (and maybe the odd mile or two in range) by swapping them for cameras that beam the rearward view to a display on a screen in the cabin.
5. Tesla Model S (75D)
What Car? Real range: 204 miles
![Tesla has recently completely updated its range when it comes to the Model S. The one What Car? has tested is no longer available, though still promised over 200 miles of range](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/15/14744650-7137701-image-a-62_1560435149963.jpg)
Tesla has recently completely updated its range when it comes to the Model S. The one What Car? has tested is no longer available, though still promised over 200 miles of range
Price new: from £68,900
The version tested here – the Model S 75D – no longer exists in Tesla’s range.
In fact, the American company has completely restructured its line-up to only offer models with the bigger 100KwH battery.
Three trims are available: Standard Range; Long Range and Performance.
The mid-spec Long Range offers (for £78,000) the longest driving distances between charges – an incredible 375 miles, according to official measurements.
4. Tesla Model X (100D)
What Car? Real range: 233 miles
![Like the Model S, Tesla has updated the trim levels of Model X. What Car? has yet to test the rangiest on offer, which is said to be able to go for 315 miles between charges](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/14/08/14744656-7137701-Like_the_Model_S_Tesla_has_updated_the_trim_levels_of_Model_X_Wh-a-4_1560498946961.jpg)
Like the Model S, Tesla has updated the trim levels of Model X. What Car? has yet to test the rangiest on offer, which is said to be able to go for 315 miles between charges
Price new: from £73,900
Like the Model S mentioned earlier, What Car? has yet to get their hands on the latest Model X in the three new trim levels of Standard Range, Long Range and Performance.
Long Range offers up to 315 miles of driving before you need to re-charge the battery.
The 100D tested here was far from the manufacturer’s claim, but still more than capable of a journey from Manchester to London without stopping for electricity.
3. Kia e-Niro
What Car? Real range: 253 miles
![Kia's e-Niro should be right near the top of your shopping list if you're in the market for a family car with electric-only power](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/15/14744208-7137701-image-m-65_1560435228793.jpg)
Kia’s e-Niro should be right near the top of your shopping list if you’re in the market for a family car with electric-only power
Price new: from £32,995
The Hyundai Kona Electric and this Kia e-Niro share the same battery and motor setup offering a choice of two battery capacities.
This is the result for the larger 64kWh e-Niro.
There’s impressive range on offer, with 253 miles of driving between charges.
As far as a reasonably priced electric family car option goes, this should be near the top of your shopping list.
2. Jaguar I-Pace
What Car? Real range: 253 miles
![The I-Pace is Jaguar's first attempt at an electric vehicle. It has racked up numerous awards since it was launched last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/13/14/14744200-7137701-image-a-43_1560433612266.jpg)
The I-Pace is Jaguar’s first attempt at an electric vehicle. It has racked up numerous awards since it was launched last year
Price new: from £60,995
Jaguar’s first electric car is a seriously good one.
It’s classy, packed with performance, comfortable and – most importantly – capable of taking up to five adults on a relatively long journey.
The I-Pace is so good in fact that it’s racked up a raft of awards in the last 12 months, including the inaugural World Car of the Year for 2019.
1. Hyundai Kona Electric
What Car? Real range: 259 miles
![Of all the electric cars What Car? has tested, the Hyundai Kona was found to have the longest range of 259 miles](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/14/08/14744198-7137701-Of_all_the_electric_cars_What_Car_has_tested_the_Hyundai_Kona_wa-a-5_1560498947065.jpg)
Of all the electric cars What Car? has tested, the Hyundai Kona was found to have the longest range of 259 miles
Price new: from £27,250
There are two versions of the Kona Electric – this one being the higher capacity 64kWh example.
This rangier example is £4,000 more than the reduced mileage 39kWh model, but for it is worth the additional cash for the extended range alone.
The batteries and motor are the same as the Kia e-Niro, which features earlier in our list, though the Kona manages to eke out an extra six miles of range.
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