Quantitative Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Range Variability in Electric Vehicles: A Meta-Analysis of Published Experimental Studies (2023-2025)

Abstract

This meta-analysis examines over twenty studies and datasets from 2023-2025 on electric vehicle (EV) energy efficiency and driving range. We quantify how factors like battery capacity, vehicle class, driving speed, and ambient temperature affect EV performance. Key findings include a strong positive correlation between battery size and range. On average, EVs are about 4.4 times more efficient than comparable gasoline cars on mixed driving cycles, and up to 5.1 times more efficient in city driving. Real-world tests often show EV ranges 5-20% above official EPA estimates, although some large heavy vehicles (e.g. pickup trucks) achieve less than predicted. City driving yields lower consumption (e.g. ~14 kWh/100 km) than highway driving (~18 kWh/100 km), reflecting greater regen and lower speeds. Extreme cold greatly reduces range: one study found up to 50% range loss at -10 °C. Our analysis also highlights how performance varies by vehicle class: buses and trucks consume on the order of 80-180 kWh/100 km, far exceeding cars and SUVs. The results suggest EV technology already offers significant efficiency gains, but actual range depends strongly on conditions and use. These findings can inform consumers and policymakers on realistic range expectations and areas for improvement.