The electric cars that DON'T hit mileage range - by as much as 50 miles

The best and worst models for range reliability have been revealed in new research which could spell a word of caution for those with long journeys to make.

Nearly half of the electric cars tested didn't hit their estimated ranges when driven at motorway speeds.

It's not all bad news, with some of the vehicles tested actually outperforming their expected range - with one by more than 70 miles.

Researchers at Consumer Reports tested 22 electric vehicles in the United States by driving them at a constant speed of 70mph to see how far they went before they shut down.

Drivers continued on the road even after the range said zero, to see exactly how far they could go.

While most models stopped soon after the dashboard said zero miles left, the BMW iX travelled up to 30 additional miles, testers found.

It's thought electric vehicles may have more reliable mileage on city roads where speed limits are lower, Consumer Reports said.

Alex Knizek, manager of auto testing and insights at CR, said: “Range is much more important when you’re far from home and away from reliable charging.

“If you run out of charge on the highway, you may need to be towed, which could be both inconvenient and costly.”

The good and the bad

The Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck ran out of energy after 270 miles - 50 miles less than its estimate.

The Lucid Air, which is set to launch in the UK in 2025, missed its advertised 384-mile range by 40 miles, while the Tesla Model S ran out of juice 39 miles early - making 366 of its advertised 405 miles.

The two BMW and four Mercedes-Benz models tested all beat the clock, lasting more than 40 miles more than they should have done.

The Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic outperformed its 260-mile range by 72 miles, while the EQS 580 4Matic drove 40 miles longer than it should have done to hit 380 miles.

The BMW i4 M50 and iX xDrive50 lasted 47 miles and 46 miles longer than expected.

In the US, where the study was carried out, an EV mileage range is calculated mixing a combination of city and motorway driving, but that isn't necessarily accurate when travelling long distances at speed.

What impacts EV battery performance?

As well as your electric car's battery size, there are a number of variables that can affect how far you can drive on a full charge. They are:

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