Can I reject an EV because the range is less than advertised?
I am a volunteer driver and take people to hospital for their treatment. I need a car that has a range of 340 miles, so a saw a car Polestar advertisement saying the Polestar has a 341 mile range so I went for it. I stay in Scotland and drove all the way to Newcastle. When I got there they had charged it up to full showing a range of only 250 miles. I told them it was not enough range and they advised it at 341 mile range they told me I would have it take it home on a weeks trial and if I can not get the range they will come and get it and bring mine back. I have charged it and I can only get 250 miles of range after driving all the way to Newcastle. Where do I stand?
Asked on 3 April 2025 by

If you are unhappy with the range on the vehicle then we would suggest returning it to the dealer and getting your old car back, but it is important to remember that the range indication is a calculation based on both the battery's state of charge but also the recent rate of energy consumption, in the same way that the remaining range display on a petrol or diesel car operates. Driving in town with lots of stopping and starting increases consumption and will reduce the range more quickly, whereas steady cruising at sensible speeds will reduce the rate of consumption and should see the remaining range reduce more slowly. The ambient temperature will also have an effect on range and charging times.
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