Sunrise host Nat Barr has called out the major problem with electric vehicles after the release of bombshell testing proved manufacturers are falling short on their range claims.

The Australian Automotive Association released results as part of its $14 million Real World Testing Program on Wednesday, showing EVs failed to meet their advertised range and consumed more power than promised.

Testing involved a 93km circuit around Geelong in Victoria in damp and dry conditions, with researchers measuring the energy consumption of the vehicle.

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BYD’s Atto 3 SUV produced the worst result of the models tested, falling short of its promised range by 111km or 23 per cent, and using 21 per cent more power than advertised.

Tesla’s entry-level electric car, the Model 3, also failed to meet its promised range by 14 per cent, or 72km, and used 6 per cent more electricity than lab results showed.

The Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 SUVs also failed to meet their range by 8 per cent, or just over 40km, while the Smart #3 electric car came the closest to its lab test results, falling within 5 per cent or 23km of the advertised range.

Barr was joined by Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli on Thursday, as she questioned EV claims.

Barr said: “Just looking at the reasons why you get less than advertised on the battery — hot weather can change it, cold weather can change it, driving on different terrain can change it, stopping and starting can change it, braking can change it.

“A lot can change the amount (of power) you get from the standardised testing. Basically, everything can change it. Rosanna, do you think they should maybe change what they advertise?”

Natoli said: “The good news is, I guess, technology is improving so this will get better but in regional areas it’s a really big concern, and the range anxiety is a real thing.

“So, I guess for the moment, it is a wait and see with that, particularly when you get outside of the cities it’s a real danger.”

Zempilas said “range anxiety” was real, adding buyers should beware of untested claims.

“Isn’t it interesting, what we believe,” he said.

“On the package or on the instruction manual, it says, ‘You will be able to do this’ and you think ‘that’s great’, there it is on the manual, (but) is anyone going to check it?

“Now, they have, and you find out you can’t quite get that far. I suppose my question back is how many people have been caught short by it or is the gauge in the car still accurate?

“Don’t necessarily believe it until you have lived it out yourself.”

The findings come one week after the program revealed 25 out of 30 petrol and hybrid vehicles tested had consumed more fuel than their lab results showed and more than three in every four vehicles examined had failed to meet expectations.

The results could help families and fleet managers make choices about their next vehicle purchases, Australian Automotive Association managing director Michael Bradley said.

“As more EVs enter our market, our testing will help consumers understand which new market entrants measure up on battery range,” he said.

Electric vehicle range is typically tested in Australia using the older New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) laboratory test, but this will be replaced by the more accurate Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) from December.

The Australian Automobile Association’s vehicle-testing program, funded by the federal government, has examined 114 fuel-powered vehicles since it began in 2023 and found 88 models, or 77 per cent, failed to meet their advertised energy consumption.

— With AAP