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Consumption with and without load:

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(Elbil24): Norwegians are undoubtedly concerned about range when it comes to choosing an electric car. One thing is what the car promises in terms of declared range (WLTP), another thing is how far it actually goes. Temperature, driving style, tires and profile on the driving path.

How you load the car can also play an important role. For example, if you have a bicycle carrier, roof box or trailer, this will increase fuel consumption and reduce range. How much?

The German member organization ADAC, which is Germany’s answer to NAF, carried out an extensive test with a total of nine different forms of additional cargo. He writes The engine.

Adac used the Kia EV6 as a test car and let it try:

  • Four trailers of different weight and shape
  • Various roof racks for mounting on roofs and tow hooks.

Mid range

Let’s go straight to the bigger test results: if you put a caravan behind the Kia EV6, you risk reducing the range. Adac tests show that consumption increases by up to 103 percent at 100 km / h.

If you slow down, you can reduce the loss of range. According to Adac, consumption increases by 79% at 90 km / h and by 54% at 80 km / h.

If you replace the caravan with a horse trailer, consumption increases by 83 percent at 100 km / h.

Increased consumption with trailer and roof load:

Last

Consumption kWt

Percentage increase

Trailer (without brake) 20.8 1
Trailer (without brake, with hood) 25.5 24
Roof box 23.4 14
Roof rack (without bicycles) 21.6 5
Roof rack (two bikes) 27.4 33
beats 27.4 33
Rear bike carrier (two bikes) 22.2 8
Horse trailer 37.6 83
Caravan 41.9 103

The tests were carried out on a German motorway at 120 km / h. Tests with a trailer were done at 100 km / h. The Kia EV6 without load consumes 20.6 kWh at 120 km / h.

Bicycle on the towbar

Among other important results that emerge from the test, it is worth mentioning that it is wise to use the attachment when transporting bicycles.

If you place two bicycles on the roof of the EV6, consumption increases by 33 percent (at 120 km / h on the German motorway). If, on the other hand, you use a bicycle rack on the back of the towbar, consumption increases by only 8 percent at the same speed.

  • Not sure about the speed limits for cars with trailers? read more here!

You lose less range if you put the bikes on the back of the car instead of on the roof.  Photo: Tesla.

You lose less range if you put the bikes on the back of the car instead of on the roof. Photo: Tesla.
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If you’ve been riding with roof-mounted bikes for the first time, but know your next trip will be without bikes, it’s a good idea to remove the roof rack. A roof rack without bicycles actually increases fuel consumption by 5 percent at 120 km / h.

And the number of passengers?

Adac tests show that consumption increases by 6 percent if you switch from an empty car (with a driver) to a car with a driver and four passengers. The weight difference in this case was 280 kilos.

At the same time, Adac points out that the test track was challenging, with higher speeds and more acceleration and braking than typical of normal driving.

Adac then concludes that the car is internal weight has surprisingly little to do with consumption.

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