EV Test Shows Range Anxiety Fading as Efficiency Becomes Key Factor
A new national road test by CAA suggests many modern electric vehicles can comfortably handle longer trips, shifting the focus from driving range to efficiency, charging speed and charging costs.
The 2026 CAA EV Circuit put 22 electric vehicles through the same 230-kilometre route in Ontario, with every vehicle completing the journey without needing to recharge. On average, the vehicles used just 40 per cent of their battery capacity during the trip.
CAA Manitoba says the results show that range anxiety may no longer be the primary concern for many EV shoppers. Instead, drivers should pay closer attention to how efficiently a vehicle uses energy, how quickly it can recharge and what it costs to power.
The vehicles in the test consumed the equivalent of about two litres of gasoline per 100 kilometres, compared with the eight to 10 litres typically used by a conventional passenger vehicle. Efficiency varied widely among models, however, highlighting the importance of comparing individual vehicles before making a purchase.
A standardized 15-minute charging session also produced varying results. On average, vehicles added 110 kilometres of driving range, though individual results ranged from 58 to 178 kilometres. Charging costs also differed significantly, ranging from just over $7 to nearly $25 for the same 15-minute session.
CAA says the findings reinforce the fact that charging performance and operating costs can differ greatly between EV models, even when travelling the same route under similar conditions.
Source: CAA Manitoba
