Electric Road Trip: Testing the Range of Four Electric Cars in Algarve

Finding a free charger during vacation can be a nightmare for electric car owners. A range test can help plan charges to avoid unnecessary delays.

The Challenges of Electric Driving During Holidays

Holiday seasons are dreaded by electric vehicle owners. No one forgets the images of endless queues under the sun, patiently waiting for a charging spot. To avoid these inconveniences, it's essential to know the vehicle's range and plan the final charge before heading to the Algarve, a favorite vacation spot for many Portuguese.

The Electric Quartet

To address this dilemma, we selected four electric cars with an announced range exceeding 500 km. In theory, this should be enough to travel from Viseu to Albufeira without needing to stop for a charge. The BYD Seal (520 km) and Peugeot E-3008 (522 km) present a risky option, while the Mercedes EQE 350+ (689 km) and Porsche Taycan Performance Plus (650 km) offer more comfort, promising to connect Ponte de Lima to Albufeira while still having battery left for beach trips.

Real-World Conditions

We conducted our test under what we considered realistic conditions: using air conditioning to cope with the 28-degree heat and cruise control set to 120 km/h on the highway. However, we maintained a commonality with the “range champion”: we drove alone. Adding family and luggage will impact the autonomy of cars weighing over two tons.

The battery capacity is crucial, with the BYD Seal (82.5 kWh) and Peugeot E-3008 (73 kWh) focusing on efficiency, while the Mercedes EQE (96 kWh) and Porsche Taycan (97 kWh) opt for capacity. This choice affects both weight and price.

Vacation Time

We started our journey on the highway, where constant effort caused the range to drop sharply. The Mercedes and Porsche led with 523 km and 529 km respectively, while the BYD and Peugeot fell short of making it from Coimbra to Albufeira. Switching to the scenic route, we saw fluctuations in consumption, with the Mercedes EQE 350+ achieving an impressive 658 km of autonomy compared to the BYD Seal's 517 km.

Efficiency Calculations

In our calculations, the most efficient electric vehicle was the BYD Seal Excellence. However, it is important to note that the average figures were based only on the last 50 km of the journey. Despite the BYD’s limitations in reporting, it managed to stand out as the most efficient, powerful, and affordable among the quartet. The Peugeot E-3008 was the second most efficient, especially on the scenic route, and the Mercedes EQE 350+ consistently outperformed the Porsche Taycan.

Given that the vacation destination is the Algarve, we recommend quick charges at service areas in the central region, which are likely to have shorter lines than those on the A2.