Advertised range is measured under set test conditions. A real trip rarely matches them. A truck running fully loaded, at motorway speed, over hills, on a cold morning can fall well short of its rated range.
The gap matters more for trucks than for cars. A truck's weight can change by many tonnes between an empty run and a full load, so the same truck can have very different ranges on different days.
Payload and total weight: The single biggest factor. More weight means more energy needed, especially when accelerating and climbing.
Speed: Air resistance rises steeply with speed, so a few km/h faster on the motorway costs real range.
Terrain: Long climbs drain the battery. Descents give some energy back through regenerative braking.
Temperature: Cold weather reduces battery efficiency, and heating the cab and battery uses extra energy.
Driving style and route type: Smooth driving and steady speeds help. Stop-start urban routes and motorway runs behave very differently.
Fleets get the most reliable results by planning each trip on its actual conditions, not on the brochure figure. That means estimating energy use for the specific truck, load, route and weather, then keeping a safety margin at every stop.
Is electric truck range enough for regional transport? It can be, for routes that fit within the truck's real-world range. These routes often return to a depot, where trucks can charge overnight.
Does range drop in winter? Yes. Cold reduces battery efficiency, and cab heating uses extra energy, so winter range is usually lower than summer range.
If you want range estimates based on real conditions, and not just brochure figures for your truck, talk to one of our experts.
