Failing to meet its target of 275 miles on a charge, the Polestar 2 is the latest European EV to suffer from EPA range shrinkitis.
Despite being rated at up to 292 miles per charge under Europe's WLTP standards, the EPA reports that customers should count on just 233 miles per charge based on its testing. It also rates the car's efficiency at 366 watt-hours per mile (Wh/mi), leaving it again lagging behind the Tesla Model 3.
The Polestar 2 is hardly the first European EV to come across the pond and lose estimated range. The Porsche Taycan, which was rated at 288 miles per charge according to WLTP standards, was rated at less than 200 miles per charge by the EPA.
And although the WLTP's range estimates appear to err on the side of optimism, the EPA appears to be a little harsh, too. More than a few publications ran "I beat the EPA's estimated range in a Taycan" stories after the EPA's figures were released.
One reason for this might be caution on the part of established manufacturers. Although Telsa's Model 3 (depending on trim) has been rated at more than 300 miles of range, most established brands have chosen not to offer drivers the full battery's range, unlike Tesla. This is being done to protect the battery, they say, and extend its life.
That's an important cause, if it's not just an excuse, because as Polestar showed last week, the bulk of an EV's carbon footprint comes from the manufacture of its battery. Indeed, it takes about 30,000 miles of driving on wind power before an EV becomes greener than an internal combustion car. The longer a battery survives, then, the greener the car.
Still, all the math in the world won't protect Polestar from sticker shock if they can't start playing the EPA's game.
Despite being rated at up to 292 miles per charge under Europe's WLTP standards, the EPA reports that customers should count on just 233 miles per charge based on its testing. It also rates the car's efficiency at 366 watt-hours per mile (Wh/mi), leaving it again lagging behind the Tesla Model 3.
The Polestar 2 is hardly the first European EV to come across the pond and lose estimated range. The Porsche Taycan, which was rated at 288 miles per charge according to WLTP standards, was rated at less than 200 miles per charge by the EPA.
And although the WLTP's range estimates appear to err on the side of optimism, the EPA appears to be a little harsh, too. More than a few publications ran "I beat the EPA's estimated range in a Taycan" stories after the EPA's figures were released.
One reason for this might be caution on the part of established manufacturers. Although Telsa's Model 3 (depending on trim) has been rated at more than 300 miles of range, most established brands have chosen not to offer drivers the full battery's range, unlike Tesla. This is being done to protect the battery, they say, and extend its life.
That's an important cause, if it's not just an excuse, because as Polestar showed last week, the bulk of an EV's carbon footprint comes from the manufacture of its battery. Indeed, it takes about 30,000 miles of driving on wind power before an EV becomes greener than an internal combustion car. The longer a battery survives, then, the greener the car.
Still, all the math in the world won't protect Polestar from sticker shock if they can't start playing the EPA's game.
