EV range tests explained: WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC vs NEDC
WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC vs NEDC: which EV range can you trust
EV range tests explained: WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC vs NEDC
Understand how EV range claims differ across WLTP, EPA, CLTC and NEDC. We compare test cycles, show real-world gaps, and reveal which standards you can trust.
2025-10-30T22:21:05+03:00
2025-10-30T22:21:05+03:00
2025-10-30T22:21:05+03:00
When carmakers tout 500 or 700 kilometers of range, they’re talking about lab results, not real-world trips. Europe, the United States and China use different test cycles—NEDC, WLTP, EPA and CLTC—so the very same EV can carry wildly different range figures while the hardware stays identical. SPEEDME.RU breaks down how these cycles differ and which one comes closest to everyday driving.NEDC: optimism from the pastThe NEDC standard dates back to the 1970s. The test lasts about 20 minutes and simulates gentle urban and suburban driving with an average speed of 34 km/h and a top of 120 km/h. Climate control and heating are switched off, and accelerations are smooth. Unsurprisingly, EVs post eye-catching numbers under this regime. Until recently, many Chinese brands leaned on NEDC figures because they looked impressive, even though real-world range tended to be 20–30% lower.WLTP: Europe’s more life-like benchmarkSince 2019, all new cars in Europe must be tested under WLTP. It runs for around 30 minutes and includes four driving phases—from city to high-speed—with a maximum of 130 km/h. Unlike the old NEDC, WLTP factors in lights, air conditioning and more realistic loads.As a result, WLTP range comes in 15–25% lower than NEDC, but lands far closer to what drivers actually see. For European buyers weighing which EV to pick in 2025, it’s become the primary reference point. In day-to-day use, WLTP numbers generally feel attainable without babying the throttle.EPA: a stringent U.S. methodologyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tests EVs with particular rigor. Cars go through a series of scenarios—city, highway, hard acceleration, and driving in both heat and cold. These trials are considered the most truthful because they account for real climate conditions. On average, EPA ranges are 10–20% lower than WLTP, and those numbers tend to be the trusted yardstick when comparing the top passenger cars in the U.S. If you prefer conservative estimates, EPA is the safe bet.CLTC: China’s city-focused approachSince 2021, China has used its own CLTC cycle, tuned to the stop-start rhythm of big cities. It lasts about 30 minutes and mimics frequent traffic halts, gentle accelerations and a top speed of 114 km/h. CLTC results skew optimistic—on average 15–20% higher than WLTP and about 30% higher than EPA. That’s why Chinese makers including BYD, Geely and Chery often cite this cycle when highlighting their best cars.Which standard is the most objectiveThe gap between systems is striking: a Tesla Model 3 shows 675 km under CLTC, 602 km on WLTP and 576 km on EPA. Same car on paper, nearly a 100 km spread. For buyers in Russia, it’s crucial to check which cycle the listed figures come from.In Europe and Russia, WLTP is the most common reference—a sensible compromise between NEDC’s optimism and EPA’s strictness. If you see CLTC or NEDC in the spec sheet, subtract 20–30% from the number; that’s roughly what tends to evaporate in real use.ConclusionWhen choosing an electric car, look beyond the badge and the price and pay attention to the testing method. WLTP and EPA provide the most realistic picture of what a car can do. China’s CLTC suits marketing better, while NEDC belongs to the past. If you want a figure that reflects what awaits you on actual roads, lean on the European and American standards.
EV range, WLTP, EPA, CLTC, NEDC, electric car range, test cycles, real-world driving, range comparison, EV buyers guide, Europe, United States, China, Russia
2025
Michael Powers
articles
WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC vs NEDC: which EV range can you trust
Understand how EV range claims differ across WLTP, EPA, CLTC and NEDC. We compare test cycles, show real-world gaps, and reveal which standards you can trust.
Michael Powers, Editor
When carmakers tout 500 or 700 kilometers of range, they’re talking about lab results, not real-world trips. Europe, the United States and China use different test cycles—NEDC, WLTP, EPA and CLTC—so the very same EV can carry wildly different range figures while the hardware stays identical. SPEEDME.RU breaks down how these cycles differ and which one comes closest to everyday driving.
NEDC: optimism from the past
The NEDC standard dates back to the 1970s. The test lasts about 20 minutes and simulates gentle urban and suburban driving with an average speed of 34 km/h and a top of 120 km/h. Climate control and heating are switched off, and accelerations are smooth. Unsurprisingly, EVs post eye-catching numbers under this regime. Until recently, many Chinese brands leaned on NEDC figures because they looked impressive, even though real-world range tended to be 20–30% lower.
WLTP: Europe’s more life-like benchmark
Since 2019, all new cars in Europe must be tested under WLTP. It runs for around 30 minutes and includes four driving phases—from city to high-speed—with a maximum of 130 km/h. Unlike the old NEDC, WLTP factors in lights, air conditioning and more realistic loads.
As a result, WLTP range comes in 15–25% lower than NEDC, but lands far closer to what drivers actually see. For European buyers weighing which EV to pick in 2025, it’s become the primary reference point. In day-to-day use, WLTP numbers generally feel attainable without babying the throttle.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tests EVs with particular rigor. Cars go through a series of scenarios—city, highway, hard acceleration, and driving in both heat and cold. These trials are considered the most truthful because they account for real climate conditions. On average, EPA ranges are 10–20% lower than WLTP, and those numbers tend to be the trusted yardstick when comparing the top passenger cars in the U.S. If you prefer conservative estimates, EPA is the safe bet.
CLTC: China’s city-focused approach
Since 2021, China has used its own CLTC cycle, tuned to the stop-start rhythm of big cities. It lasts about 30 minutes and mimics frequent traffic halts, gentle accelerations and a top speed of 114 km/h. CLTC results skew optimistic—on average 15–20% higher than WLTP and about 30% higher than EPA. That’s why Chinese makers including BYD, Geely and Chery often cite this cycle when highlighting their best cars.
Which standard is the most objective
The gap between systems is striking: a Tesla Model 3 shows 675 km under CLTC, 602 km on WLTP and 576 km on EPA. Same car on paper, nearly a 100 km spread. For buyers in Russia, it’s crucial to check which cycle the listed figures come from.
In Europe and Russia, WLTP is the most common reference—a sensible compromise between NEDC’s optimism and EPA’s strictness. If you see CLTC or NEDC in the spec sheet, subtract 20–30% from the number; that’s roughly what tends to evaporate in real use.
Conclusion
When choosing an electric car, look beyond the badge and the price and pay attention to the testing method. WLTP and EPA provide the most realistic picture of what a car can do. China’s CLTC suits marketing better, while NEDC belongs to the past. If you want a figure that reflects what awaits you on actual roads, lean on the European and American standards.
