The most power-hungry electric cars

By Electric Cars, 20 February, 2022

Many people are putting off buying an electric car because they are concerned about range. As a result, electric car manufacturers frequently rely on huge, strong batteries to transport a significant amount of energy and improve range. However, the amount of energy consumed by electric vehicles every 100 kilometers is equally significant. Because the more efficiently automobiles go on the road, the further they can travel. However, because electric cars are always estimated to emit 0 grams of CO2 in CO2 fleet statistics, there are few incentives to build a highly efficient electric vehicle.

Already, there are significant discrepancies across the models. According to an ADAC rating, the amount of energy consumed by an electric vehicle is determined by factors other than its size, weight, and horsepower.

The design and temperature control of the battery packs can also significantly impact how much energy is consumed over 100 kilometers. Unfortunately, Tesla and Porsche are not among the top five power-hungry electric cars.

5th place: Audi e-tron 55 quattro - 25.8 kWh per 100 kilometers.

Audi's big electric SUV is quite costly at 88,500 euros. On the other hand, the battery is large compared to many competitors, at 95 kWh, and should provide users with a long-range. However, as soon as high speeds are attained, the 400 PS monster's consumption skyrockets, especially on long travels.

According to the ADAC Eco-Test, actual usage is around 12% higher than declared official consumption. As a result, the SUV's true range is also decreasing. At the very least, even if the Audi isn't exceptionally energy-efficient: Under real-world conditions, the electric model consumes the energy of 2.6 liters of diesel if the energy content of one liter of fuel (9.8 kWh) is converted to the Audi e-tron. In the ADAC Eco-Test, a similar Audi Q5 quattro achieved 6.4 liters of diesel - and therefore consumes nearly twice as much energy despite the lesser engine.

4th place: Jaguar I-Pace EV400 S AWD (27.6 kWh/100 km).

In contrast to many rivals, the British focus on lightweight construction for their electric car so that the extra weight of the battery does not detract from the car's dynamic. Regrettably, this has little impact on consumption. The I-Pace burned 25% more fuel than the manufacturer indicated in the ADAC Eco-Test.

With its two electric motors, the Jaguar is meant to be highly sporty. According to ADAC, consumption climbs by more than 30 kWh per 100 kilometers at high speeds on the autobahn. The actual range is reduced to less than 300 kilometers when driving faster. With a 90 kWh battery and a starting price of 78,000 euros, you should anticipate greater values.

3rd place: Mercedes EQC 400 AMG Line (27.6 kWh/100 km).

Daimler's foray into electromobility was quite underwhelming. The Mercedes-Benz EQC is built on a combustion platform and so represents a design compromise at best. In terms of efficiency, it is impossible to compete with the finest in its class (such as the Tesla Model X).

Real consumption in the ADAC Eco-Test is around 22% higher than the manufacturer's specification. The ADAC testers claim that the EQC is quite susceptible to cold. The EQC is one of the least efficient electric vehicles, particularly in terms of consumption. That isn't very pleasant for an electric vehicle that costs 74,000 euros, even in the basic form.

2nd place: Nissan e-NV200 Evalia (40 kWh) - 28.1 kWh/100 km.

Electric seven-seaters are uncommon. With the e-NV200 electric car, Nissan was truly ahead of the competition. Meanwhile, the model is out of date, and the consumption is far too high even when compared to the competition's powerful SUVs.

In the eco test, the model with the bigger battery consumes 28.1 kWh per 100 kilometers, which is around 11% higher than the official figure. On the other hand, the comparably small battery capacity of 40 kWh is sufficient for city traffic. However, Nissan should not be concerned: the model is just too old to be genuinely efficient compared to the premium competitors.

1st place: Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor - 29.2 kWh/100 km.

The Swedish electric sedan's real consumption numbers are remarkably low for a vehicle that already has extended range in its name. The Polestar 2 uses around 51% more than the Swedish manufacturer's claimed consumption figures in the ADAC vehicle test.

These are low values for an electric car that is meant to compete with the Tesla Model 3. According to the ADAC, the Polestar 2 is inefficient in both consumption and charging losses. Furthermore, the eco-test takes place in 22-degree weather, ideal for electric vehicles.