Winter costs driving range - ADAC tests winter suitability of electric cars

Even the selection of the vehicles shows what the car club was aiming for. The models had to promise at least 500 kilometers WLTP range, in the ADAC car test the 'Family' category with at least a grade of 3.0, and cost under €100,000 new. No exotica then, but vehicles that could actually be parked in front of single-family houses, in supermarket parking lots, and at school parking lots.

WLTP value in winter is utopian

The good news first: Electric cars also reach their destination in winter on long-distance journeys. The bad news follows on the heels: The deviation between the standard and real-world reality remains substantial. On average, the extra energy consumption in the ADAC winter test was 57 percent higher than the WLTP figure. The value is determined at 23 degrees Celsius and moderate pace – conditions that have little to do with a January drive on the A9. The strongest outlier was 69 percent; even the most economical candidate deviated upward by 40 percent.

Thus the question “How far can I go?” quickly becomes the more pragmatic: “How often do I need to charge?” For the 582 kilometers from Munich to Berlin, most test vehicles require two charging stops. Only two manage to reach the destination with a single stop of around 20 minutes: the Audi A6 Avant e-tron performance and the Smart #5 Premium. A detail that on the long-distance run makes the difference between a relaxed arrival and efficient time management.

Audi leads the field

With an ADAC rating of 1.9, it earns—being one of only two vehicles—the verdict “good.” After almost four hours of driving, 441 kilometers are on the clock, and consumption stands at 23.2 kWh per 100 kilometers. For the remaining distance, a short charging stop is enough, delivering energy for around 300 kilometers. In the combination of achieved range and charging speed, the Audi sets the benchmark—not with magic, but with efficient technology.