AAA study shows electric vehicles’ range falls when carrying heavy loads
Electric vehicles lose a significant amount of range when loaded with heavy cargo, according to a new AAA study.
An electric pickup truck can lose nearly 25% of its range when hauling loads about 100 pounds less than its maximum capacity, the study said.
“Range anxiety remains a top reason consumers are hesitant to switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to EVs,” Adrienne Woodland, a AAA spokeswoman, said in a statement. “While this study may heighten concerns, it’s worth remembering that excess weight reduces fuel economy in gas-powered vehicles too.”
In the study, the auto club’s researchers drove a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck with a 1,400-pound load of sandbags. The load was 110 pounds less than the truck’s maximum capacity.
AAA’s test truck saw its range drop by 24.5% from 278 miles to 210 miles, it said. The test was conducted on a 7.5-mile oval test track and a dynamometer at The Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center.
Simply put, extra weight in a vehicle requires more energy for it to move, researchers said.
“Our testing revealed a significant range reduction, but it’s important to note that the Lightning was loaded to near its maximum capacity,” Greg Brannon, director of AAA Automotive Engineering, the auto club’s division that conducted the study, said in a statement. “Most buyers will likely use their Lightning with a lighter load, resulting in a much smaller range reduction.”
Despite the study’s findings, AAA said that electric vehicles remain a viable option for many motorists.