"Different from manufacturer announcements"... MOTline begins collecting 'actual usable battery' data for electric vehicles

Points have been raised that there is a difference between the battery capacity announced by electric vehicle manufacturers and the 'Usable Battery' size that can actually be used in the vehicle. In response, the automotive specialized channel MOTline announced that it is conducting a project to collect actual driving data from electric vehicle users.

Difference between manufacturer-announced capacity and actual usable capacity... deviations exist in Tesla and others

According to the MOTline video, it was revealed that the battery capacity disclosed by automobile manufacturers sometimes fails to fully represent the actual usable battery size of the vehicle. The video used data from approximately 20 vehicles collected so far as examples, explaining that in the case of the Hyundai Motor Company IONIQ 5 N, the manufacturer-announced capacity is 84kWh, but the actually measured usable battery size was shown to be 73.5kWh. The IONIQ 6 also showed a difference between the manufacturer-announced value of 77.4kWh and the actual measured value of 73.7kWh.

In the case of imported cars, the difference appeared even larger. The BMW i5 M60 was measured at 77.2kWh compared to the manufacturer's announcement of 83.9kWh, and the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450+ showed a difference between the announced value of 107.6kWh and the actual measured value of 104.8kWh. The presenter stated, "There isn't even consistency in the form of subtracting capacity at a uniform rate for each manufacturer," and revealed that they are gathering actual driving data to resolve this data ambiguity.

In particular, it was found that data deviations are severe in the case of Tesla vehicles. The presenter explained that when measuring a Model S vehicle by consuming the battery from 100% to 0%, the result was 55kWh when measured over a week, but 73kWh when measured in just two days, meaning large differences occur depending on the vehicle condition or battery consumption while parked.

'From 100% to 0%' data collection method and participation benefits

To calculate the accurate 'Real-world' driving range, MOTline is conducting a data upload event targeting electric vehicle users. The data calculation method involves charging the battery to 100% and then driving until it reaches 0%, using the driving distance and the cumulative fuel efficiency displayed on the dashboard to back-calculate the values.

Participation is carried out through MOTline's 'Ppabang' app. Participants can leave two types of records. First is to take a photo showing the remaining battery level and cumulative mileage when starting at 100% battery. Second, when the battery reaches 0%, a 'one-take' video must be filmed without interruption, covering the process from the car's license plate to the dashboard (including the 0% display, mileage, and fuel efficiency information).

Participants who provide data will be given charging points worth 100,000 won, which can be used at one of the largest charging service providers in Korea, at the end of October. Additionally, they plan to award special badges representing data contribution. However, the presenter urged, "Do not drive recklessly on the road to reach 0% or discharge the battery until the vehicle stops," advising to film after stopping in a safe place.

"Goal to provide transparent information to future buyers"

The purpose of this data collection goes beyond simply verifying numbers; it is to provide more objective and transparent information to consumers who intend to purchase electric vehicles in the future. Based on the collected data, MOTline plans to provide ranking information summarizing the actual driving range and usable battery size of each vehicle model through the app.

The presenter requested, "Those driving electric vehicles are like pioneers," adding, "It may be a tedious task, but please participate with the thought that the data you send will help future electric vehicle buyers." He also added that for users for whom full discharge measurement (100%→0%) is difficult, participation by submitting only cumulative fuel efficiency data via video is also permitted.