How ClearWatt calculates Real-World Range

Electric vehicle range can vary significantly in everyday use. Speed, temperature, road type, driving style, vehicle load and battery condition can all affect how far an EV will travel on a charge.

ClearWatt Real-World Range is designed to give a practical indication of how an electric vehicle is likely to perform outside a laboratory environment.

What powers our estimates?
Low, Typical and High

Moderate seasonal conditions

A mix of urban and motorway driving

A mixed-use scenario, combining urban and motorway driving in moderate seasonal conditions.

An estimate for cars like this one. Only a test shows this battery.

Check a specific EV free with its registration.

What powers our estimates?

We combine vehicle specifications, physics-based energy modelling and real-world EV data to estimate expected range for a particular make, model and derivative.

Vehicle specifications
Physics-based energy modelling
Real-world EV data
Low
161–175 mi
Typical
202–218 mi
High
222–240 mi
Illustrative example only. Not a vehicle-specific range estimate.These are scenario estimates, not absolute minimum or maximum values.

For used vehicles, we also take account of the expected effect of battery ageing for vehicles of a similar age and mileage. This allows us to provide a representative estimate without requiring the individual vehicle being advertised to undergo a physical test.

Our models are reviewed and refined using observed driving, charging and battery-performance data as the available evidence grows.

Why we show three ranges

Rather than provide a single number, ClearWatt shows three standardised scenarios to illustrate how conditions can affect EV range:

Low

A demanding scenario, typically reflecting motorway driving in colder winter conditions.

Typical

A mixed-use scenario, combining urban and motorway driving in moderate seasonal conditions.

High

A more favourable scenario, typically reflecting predominantly urban driving in warmer summer conditions.

Why ClearWatt Real-World Range can differ from WLTP

WLTP

WLTP is a standardised test used to compare new vehicles under controlled conditions.

ClearWatt Real-World Range

ClearWatt Real-World Range is intended to provide a more practical indication of likely performance in recognisable everyday driving conditions. For used vehicles, it also reflects the vehicle’s current stage of life rather than only its performance when new.

What the figures do and don’t tell you

ClearWatt Real-World Range is a modelled estimate for a vehicle of the same make, model, derivative, and similar age and mileage as the vehicle being viewed.

It is not a guarantee of the range that the individual vehicle will achieve.

Actual range can vary depending on factors including:

  • driving style and speed
  • temperature and weather
  • road type and terrain
  • heating and air-conditioning use
  • vehicle load and tyres
  • the condition of the battery.

Where a particular vehicle has undergone a ClearWatt battery, driving or charging assessment, that vehicle-specific evidence can provide an additional layer of information about the individual car.