EPA Certification Test for Electric Vehicle Range

The design of electric vehicles (EVs) has improved rapidly since their introduction onto the market. Future technologies will continue to improve battery chemistries, and as battery chemistries evolve to contain more energy at less mass, EVs will increase their useful distance per battery charge. These advancements will give EVs even greater advantages when compared to internal combustion engines, such as a lower cost to operate and greater environmental benefits.

EVs have been increasing market share each year and will continue to do so. In our recorded webinar, UL Solutions experts in automotive homologation explain the current United States federal test requirements for light-duty EV energy consumption testing.

Calculations and measurements for range have become less burdensome with recently revised test procedures. Additionally, EVs possess an advantage in obtaining national or regional government compliance, such as zero tailpipe emission recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

In the webinar, UL Solutions engineers explain the unique issues that go into an EV label and the process for calculating the effective miles per gallon equivalent (MPGE). The EV fuel economy label is co-enforced by the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Our experts also explain the methods to calculate a vehicle road load to SAE J2263. This method considers the vehicle’s tire rolling resistance, driveline loss, aerodynamic drag, as well as all the different vehicle configurations.

The underlying reason for this testing is to give consumers accurate and easy-to-understand energy consumption values and total vehicle range. The MPGE value gives consumers a familiar value they can compare to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.