The range of electric cars is frequently lower than advertised values, which has led to litigation in European courts. The WLTP procedure, which measures consumption and range under standardized conditions, does not guarantee that the driver always gets the same results on the road, since factors such as temperature, speed, air conditioning, load and battery condition influence the distance traveled.
A German court, the Landgericht Wuppertal, decided in December 2025 that a seller should accept the return of an electric car and reimburse the buyer 33,749.95 euros. The vehicle had an advertised WLTP range between 332 and 341 kilometers, but expert assessment found only about 282 kilometers, with battery degradation of approximately 17%, considered higher than expected. The court applied decisions regarding combustion vehicles by analogy and considered a divergence greater than 10% significant, although it did not create a general European rule.
In France, the Cour d'appel de Toulouse decided in favor of a company that purchased a Peugeot e-Partner for 18,990 euros, with a range indicated up to 170 kilometers. Tests revealed only 131 kilometers, a difference of about 23%. The court valued the fact that the commercial documentation did not adequately explain the standardized test conditions or the factors that could reduce range, and resolved the sale with price restitution.
Another German court, the Landgericht Ellwangen, rejected in April 2025 the claim of a buyer of a used Volkswagen e-Golf, who alleged a range up to 50% lower than the 231 kilometers WLTP indicated for a new vehicle. The decision emphasized that the natural degradation of the battery over time does not, by itself, represent a lack of conformity when it remains within technically usual values. In Portugal, Decree-Law No. 84/2021 determines that the seller is liable for lack of conformity for three years,
