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The Biden EPA Is Massively Overestimating ‘Real World’ Range Of EVs, New Report Says

President Joe Biden test drive of the Ford F-150 Lightning all-electric pick up at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, Dearborn, Michigan. Photo: The White House

By John Hugh DeMastri for the Daily Caller Foundation

Electric vehicles (EV) often fail to achieve the ranges reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in real world conditions, according to a study published by transportation industry group SAE International.

While internal combustion engines tend to either meet or surpass their EPA figures in real-world testing, EVs often fell far short of their reported range and efficiency in actuality, automotive news outlet Car and Driver reported Friday. Real-world conditions such as road conditions, extreme temperature and drivers fully charging their batteries — which manufacturers recommend avoiding to extend battery life — often result in significant disparities with reported range numbers, according to the SEA International study, which was based on data gathered by Car and Driver.

“Basically we’ve taken a look at how vehicles perform relative to the values on the window sticker, looking at the difference between what the label says and what we actually see in our real-world highway test,” the study’s co-author, Car and Driver’s testing director Dave VanderWerp, told the outlet. “We see a big difference in that gap between gas-powered vehicles and the performance of EVs. The real question is: When first-time customers are buying EVs, are they going to be pleasantly surprised or disappointed by the range?”

In a 75 mph highway test, gas-powered vehicles tended to perform roughly 4% better than their stated fuel economy, while electric vehicles on average had a range 12.5% lower than their posted numbers, according to Car and Driver.

EV ranges underperform in part because the EPA only reports a combined city and highway range, which weights the city range — where EVs typically overpowerform — over their highway performance, according to Car and Driver. The report recommends re-evaluating this metric to more accurately reflect the differences between these two scenarios.

The electrification of U.S. passenger vehicles has been a key pillar of the Biden administration’s climate policy, although just 10 models will initially qualify for the significant consumer tax credits offered under the president’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act. Despite the administration’s aggressive regulation of internal combustion engine vehicles, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm denied Thursday that the administration was making an active effort to “ban” gas and diesel-powered vehicles.

The EPA did not immediately respond to a Daily Caller News Foundation request for comment.

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