Why Electric Vehicle Range Often Falls Short of Manufacturer Claims

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Range has become one of the main considerations for consumers before buying an electric car. However, in everyday use, the range achieved does not always match the manufacturer’s claims.

The Vice Country Director of the Chery Business Unit at PT Chery Sales Indonesia, Budi Darmawan Jantania, said that the range of electric vehicles is influenced by many factors, not only battery capacity.

According to him, one factor that has a considerable influence is vehicle payload. A car carrying an excessive load will require more energy to move.

‘The range of electric vehicles is influenced by a range of factors, from excessive vehicle load, to road conditions and the incline or frequent stop-and-go driving,’ he told Kompas.com, on Wednesday 4 March 2025.

Not only that, tyre condition also plays an important role. Tyre pressures that are not optimal can increase rolling resistance, causing the car to require more energy to move.

‘The non-optimised tyre pressures also contribute to increased rolling resistance, thus energy consumption becomes higher,’ he said.

Another factor often overlooked is the use of the air conditioning system or cabin heater. Operating these features intensively can affect energy efficiency as well as battery performance.

‘Adopting smooth and anticipatory driving, together with regular vehicle maintenance, plays an important role in maintaining energy efficiency,’ he said.