WLTP vs EPA vs CLTC vs NEDC: which EV range can you trust?

When a manufacturer promises 600 or 700 kilometers of range, the reality is usually less. The catch lies in the test cycles: NEDC, WLTP, EPA, and CLTC measure the same car differently and deliver different numbers.

The most optimistic of the bunch is the aging NEDC, born in the 1970s. Its figures overshoot the real world by about 20–30% because the cycle avoids using air conditioning and assumes gentle acceleration.

Europe’s WLTP, by contrast, is closer to everyday driving. It factors in more dynamic speeds, along with headlights and climate control, so WLTP range comes out 15–25% lower—but it reads far more honestly.

According to SPEEDME.RU, the strictest benchmark is the U.S. EPA cycle: cars are tested across different temperatures and driving scenarios, and the results typically land 10–20% below WLTP. China’s CLTC, on the other hand, leans toward stop‑and‑go city patterns and tends to inflate range by roughly 15–30%.

Take the Tesla Model 3 as an example: 675 km by CLTC, 602 km by WLTP, and 576 km by EPA. For Russian buyers, WLTP remains the most reliable yardstick—it sits closest to real conditions and reflects what an electric car can actually deliver. In day-to-day use, those WLTP figures are also the least likely to surprise drivers.