Many people who own electric cars have experienced what it’s like when the mileage creeps to zero kilometers – and it’s still a long way to go for the nearest charging option.

Can it run well? Or did you end up on the side of the road, with the hazard lights on?

In the world’s largest electric car test, NAF powered the cars without electricity at all. It is important to reveal the true range on the Norwegian winter roads. But the NAF discourages doing this in everyday life.

Safe place to stop

– It’s fine to drop the battery down to 10 percent before charging, so you have some margin. This is the most relevant range for electric bikers to deal with in everyday life, says Nils Sødal who is a senior communications adviser at NAF.

When you have reached a distance of 10 kilometers, you usually also get several warnings such as it’s time to charge.

Near the end, the cars also go into what’s called “turtle mode”. Then they cut the AC performance, as well as the throttle response. And in the end it goes at a very low speed, then you just need to get to a safe place to stop.

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Have to drive completely empty

The normal thing is that the car still has a lot to go, even after the mileage meter shows zero. How much will vary from car to car.

– This is not something to be explored until absolutely necessary. But it’s certainly an interesting experience to take part in the test and drive the car to a stop, says Broom editor-in-chief Vegard Møller Johnsen.

He was the driver in this year’s winter test, where he drove a Tesla Model X Plaid. The odometer read 444 kilometers when the car finally stopped.

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Can provide extra reach

– Many electric cars show approximate range and battery percentage. The latter is the safest to drive. The range will vary greatly depending on driving patterns. If you have a lot of grades, the car will, for example, estimate shorter and shorter distances. If it goes down again, you win big. But battery percentage doesn’t “lie”, though there’s often added margin here too, says Møller Johnsen.

In a large electric car test, the car started with 100 percent battery, but the car didn’t preheat. More and more electric cars are able to warm up the compartment and battery before you travel. This can give you extra kilometers down the road.

– Preheat the car when connected to the charger at home. Then you start your journey on a hot battery straight from the mains. That can provide extra reach, says Nils Sødal.

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