What is WLTP? Rated range vs real range in an electric car

Short answer

WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) is the standard laboratory test that measures a car's consumption and, for electric cars, its range. It has been mandatory in the European Union since 2017, and the range quoted in the brochures of cars sold in Türkiye is also the WLTP figure.

WLTP range is good for comparing cars with one another, but it is not the range you will see on the road. According to Şarj Rehberim's comparison across 242 models, real range in mixed driving is about 80% of the WLTP figure, and 60–65% in winter and on fast motorways.

How is the WLTP test done?

The car runs through a standard driving cycle on a rolling road called a chassis dynamometer, in a laboratory at about 23 °C. The cycle lasts about 30 minutes, covers 23.3 km and is made up of urban, rural and motorway phases; the average speed is 46.5 km/h and the top speed 131 km/h.

For electric cars the cycle is repeated until the battery runs out, and the total distance is quoted as the WLTP range. Real road conditions such as air conditioning, heating, wind and hills are not part of the test.

Sources (as of 2 November 2026): EU Regulation 2017/1151 (WLTP)

Why is real range shorter?

• Speed: the WLTP average is 46.5 km/h. At 120 km/h, air resistance pushes consumption up noticeably.
• Temperature: the test is run at 23 °C. In winter the battery chemistry slows down and cabin heating uses energy; range drops by a further 20–30%.
• Air conditioning and auxiliary systems: these are off during the test; in summer the air conditioning and in winter the heating add to consumption.
• Load, tyres and road: a full boot, winter tyres, hills and wind all increase consumption.
• Unused battery margin: in real life nobody drives down to 0%; most drivers plug in with 10–20% left.

WLTP and real range for cars sold in Türkiye

The table below shows the WLTP range of some models sold in Türkiye alongside Şarj Rehberim's real range estimate. The estimate is 81% of WLTP for mixed driving (the median ratio between independently measured real consumption and WLTP consumption across 242 models is 1.23) and 62% for winter and motorway driving.

Sources (as of 2 November 2026): Togg technical specifications · ADAC Autokatalog (WLTP figures) · EV Database

WLTP vs EPA, CLTC and NEDC

If you see a high range figure in the launch material for a model coming from China, check which test it was measured on: a CLTC figure cannot be compared with WLTP.

Getting closer to the WLTP range

• Driving at 100–110 km/h on the motorway instead of 110–120 km/h cuts consumption noticeably.
• In winter, preconditioning the car while it is plugged in (from the app) warms the battery and cabin with energy from the grid.
• Seat and steering wheel heating use far less energy than heating the cabin.
• Keep tyre pressures at the manufacturer's values and take out unnecessary weight.
• Use regenerative braking: when you slow down, part of the energy goes back into the battery.

Frequently asked questions

Is the WLTP range real?

It is a standard value measured in a laboratory; it is reliable for comparing cars, but it is not the range you get on the road. In mixed driving it is realistic to expect about 80% of WLTP, and 60–65% in winter and on the motorway.

What does WLTP stand for?

Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure. In Europe it has replaced the old NEDC test since 2017.

Why is city range close to WLTP, or even higher?

At low speed there is little air resistance, and frequent slowing down lets regenerative braking recover energy. That is why in mild weather you can get close to the WLTP figure in town, or even beat it.

How can I see the real range of my own car?

Add your car to the My Cars screen in Şarj Rehberim; range and charging calculations then use your car's battery and consumption figures. As you log trips, the app learns your own consumption.