Battery testing firm ClearWatt released findings showing that bigger wheels can slash electric vehicle range by up to 50 miles per charge.
The analytics company’s research reveals that even a one-inch wheel size increase creates significant range loss.
A 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range with rear-wheel drive delivers around 300 miles of real-world range on 18-inch wheels. Swap those for 20-inch wheels and range drops to 250 miles – that’s a 50-mile difference and 20% efficiency loss.
For UK drivers covering the average 7,400 miles annually, this wheel upgrade would cost an extra £120 per year in charging expenses.
Tesla Model 3 Shows 12% Range Drop
The Tesla Model 3 – Britain’s most popular used electric car – loses 37 miles per charge when jumping from 18-inch to 19-inch wheels. That translates to a 12% efficiency hit.
ClearWatt’s testing found that adding aero covers to the Model 3’s smaller wheels boosts range by 4%.
The Jaguar I-PACE demonstrated similar patterns. Real-world range dropped from 240 miles on standard 18-inch wheels to 206 miles with optional 22-inch wheels – a 34-mile loss representing 12% reduced efficiency.
Why Bigger Wheels Kill Range
Larger wheels reduce electric vehicle range through three main factors.
Weight plays the primary role. Bigger wheels weigh more than smaller ones, requiring additional energy to accelerate that extra mass.
Rolling resistance creates the second impact. Larger wheels typically pair with wider, lower-profile tires that contact more road surface. This increased contact area generates more friction between tire and pavement.
Aerodynamics complete the efficiency puzzle.
Larger wheels with complex designs disrupt airflow around the vehicle more than smaller, purpose-built aero wheels. The combination forces electric motors to work harder and drain battery energy faster than they would with smaller wheel setups.
“When buying an EV, it’s obvious that you should check the range, and mileage of the vehicle, but it’s also important to understand the impact that things like wheel size and aerodynamics are going to have in terms of how it performs in the real world,” explained ClearWatt co-founder and managing director Patrick Cresswell. “As our data shows, it doesn’t take much change in size to have a big impact on the car’s performance.”
The research highlights how seemingly minor modifications can significantly affect an electric vehicle’s real-world efficiency – something buyers should factor into their purchasing decisions alongside advertised range figures.
