Europe’s Green NCAP has released its latest assessment of electric vehicle performance, focusing on real-world range, charging speed, and energy efficiency under challenging winter conditions. The study shows that cold temperatures, cabin heating systems, and charging rates can substantially reduce usable range, even in modern EVs.
Tests conducted at –7°C (19°F) revealed that smaller batteries were particularly affected. The Dacia Spring, equipped with a 27.6 kWh battery, saw its mixed-weather range drop from 180 km to 133 km in cold conditions and fell to 119 km on motorways. By contrast, the Hyundai Inster (49 kWh) maintained 219 km in cold weather, while the Volkswagen ID.4 Pure (52 kWh) retained 196 km, sufficient for daily commuting.
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Cabin heating systems were found to influence efficiency significantly. The Dacia Spring’s PTC heater consumed a large portion of its battery, while the Hyundai Inster’s heat pump and remote heating features minimized energy loss. The VW ID.4 benefited from preconditioning, adding up to 79 km of effective range before trips. Fast-charging performance also varied: the ID.4 reached 10–80% charge in 27 minutes at 155 kW, the Inster in 31 minutes at 81 kW, and the Spring required 40 minutes at 34 kW.
Green NCAP noted that EV sustainability ratings remain strong, with the Dacia Spring achieving the top five-star rating for life-cycle CO₂ equivalent emissions (90 g/km), followed by the Hyundai Inster (114 g/km) and the ID.4 Pure (higher due to greater mass). Conventional vehicles such as the SEAT Ibiza 1.0 MPI maintained consistent winter performance but could not match EV sustainability scores.
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“Our test results show that the ‘Driver Experience’—especially in winter—varies greatly among electric cars,” said Dr. Aleksandar Damyanov, Technical Manager at Green NCAP. “Manufacturers must continue optimizing heating and charging systems to reduce range anxiety and enhance everyday usability.”