Is range on EV reason to return under "short term right to reject" of Consumer Rights Act?

rndb2023

I have owned an Audi Q8 Etron less than 30 days, bought from main dealer new. It has an advertised range of 318-340 miles. The day I picked it up, fully charged at 100%, with only a couple of miles on the clock it displayed a maximum range of 290 miles.
Since owning it, it thinks the maximum range is around 270-280 miles on 100% charge. I then get much less than this, around 200 miles (approx 2miles/ Kw)
I accept that you will never get the quoted figure whether an EV or ICE, I have never expected to get the quoted mpg on previous ICE vehicles. However, surely when fully charged the maximum range should be within the quoted range? I am not getting close to this, then 'in the real world' when driving even less than that. 
Has the car therefore been misrepresented? It is misleading to claim you can get x amount of miles with a full charge when it never has displayed this amount of miles as being achievable from day one.
If that is the case, is this therefore a reason to evoke the short term right to reject under section 22 of the Consumer Rights Act? i.e. it has been misrepresented and does not match what I was told when it was sold to me/advertised and not fit for purpose

Arunmor

This might be worth reading. I don't know much about them and I'm not rushing to buy one for reason s such as this.

https://www.themotorombudsman.org/knowledge-base/what-can-i-do-if-i-have-a-complaint-about-the-range-of-my-electric-vehicle


and this gives alleged real life range

 https://ev-database.org/car/1770/Audi-Q8-e-tron-55-quattro

Aylesbury_Duck

Is the range estimated and adaptive?  On my (quite old) ICE car, the range displayed after each refuelling varies slightly to reflect the economy of the last tank's driving.  If I've done a couple of long economical motorway cruises and reset the average MPG computer then fill up, the estimated range of the new tank of fuel is higher than usual.  

The day you picked it up with only two miles on the clock, presumably it's extrapolating the economy of those two miles to give an estimated range.  290 miles isn't a long way from the range quoted.  If you're a month in, driving it in warm temperatures with the aircon on, is it possible that that's why you're seeing a particularly low range estimate?

All guesswork on my part, but it's possible that's what the retailer will counter with.

Alderbank

Advertised figures for EVs are always WLTP data which are compiled by driving at set speeds for fixed distances on a test track. No gradients, no braking, no passenger weight, etc. Real life figures are always lower.

The Audi Q8 e-tron is not considered to be very efficient.
AutoExpress's review for example says:

'...more range and faster charging speeds than its predecessor, but its efficiency lags behind rivals.

...we’re yet to be convinced by the Q8 e-tron’s efficiency. You’ll do well to get more than 2.5 miles per kWh of energy, so you can lop 75 miles off the quoted range straight away, which equates to a real-world range of about 265 miles from this, the longest-range Q8 e-tron variant. In cold weather, or after more enthusiastic driving, don’t be surprised to see even less distance from a full charge.'

Edited to add:
You ask about fitness for purpose.

It's a motor car. Its purpose is to convey you safely and legally from A to B stopping from time to time for a recharge. If it does that it is fit for purpose.

If you had said something like 'It must take me without stopping from Birmingham to Edinburgh. Will it do that?' and they assured you in writing that it always would, you would have a claim under fitness for purpose.

Hoenir

"more enthusiastic driving"............ I like that term.

born_again

EV range is a very subjective. As there are many factors that affect it.
Biggest one being right foot & speed travelled at.

I get over 300 on my Niro, yet WLTP is 282, yet other get far less. My driving tends to be round town & A roads. So not punishing. Take it on a M/Way & drive at speed limit, will see it drop down below WLTP.

Like a lot of cars the range shown is based on your historic driving data. So will not show the WLTP figure at full charge, as that would be totally pointless. 
You need to see the real world range.
Same as you would in a ICE & the range given with a full tank of fuel, not being the WLTP figure.

Given you accept that you will never get the quoted figure whether an EV or ICE. Then you have answered your own question.

Jaybee_16

Taken from the Audi website, Q8 e-tron section. 

• 1Range dependent on trim and optional equipment. All vehicles are tested according to WLTP technical procedures. Figures shown are official test values for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including but not limited to factory fitted options, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, road and traffic conditions, individual driving styles, vehicle load, vehicle condition, use of systems like climate control (and, for battery electric vehicles, the starting charge, age and conditions of the battery). Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Battery electric vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Zero emissions while driving. Figures quoted are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes and figures may include options not available in the UK. Please consult your local Audi Centre for further information. Data correct in July 2023. Lithium-ion batteries, of the type used in most electric vehicles (including Audi electric vehicles) have a restricted lifespan. Battery capacity will reduce over time, with use and charging. Reduction in battery capacity will affect the performance of the vehicle, including the range achievable, and may impact resale value. New car performance figures (including battery capacity and range) may be provided for the purposes of comparison between vehicles. You should not rely on new car performance figures (including battery capacity and range), in relation to used vehicles with older batteries, as they will not reflect used vehicle performance in the real world. For further information on batteries and the Audi 8 year/100,000 mile battery warranty, please visit https://www.audi.co.uk/uk/web/en/electric/faqs/battery.html.

rndb2023

'Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged'
I think this is the point though, when picked up, with no prior driving history (other than couple of delivery miles) so therefore no real memory of driving style etc I don't feel it is unrealistic to expect, at that point, it to show a range within the quoted figures of 320-340 miles. As it happens, my vehicle is the exact spec of the vehicle 'in the adverts'. 

Born_Again - I don't think I have answered my own question. The point being, one expects not to get the quoted mpg, or ml/kw but from brand new you expect it show that the range when fully charged is within the quoted value. it is not.

Alderbank

rndb2023 said:

'Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged'
I think this is the point though, when picked up, with no prior driving history (other than couple of delivery miles) so therefore no real memory of driving style etc I don't feel it is unrealistic to expect, at that point, it to show a range within the quoted figures of 320-340 miles. As it happens, my vehicle is the exact spec of the vehicle 'in the adverts'. 

Born_Again - I don't think I have answered my own question. The point being, one expects not to get the quoted mpg, or ml/kw but from brand new you expect it show that the range when fully charged is within the quoted value. it is not.

The vehicle might have only nominal miles but the EV battery will have been extensively tested, both as cells and as battery, during manufacture.
This is less to determine range and more to ensure safety to minimise risk of thermal runaway, fire, rapid self-discharge, etc. The tests include a degree of overcharge and overdischarge beyond what they will experience in their working life.

VAG developed unique batteries for the Q8 e-tron at their battery research and testing centre in Gaimersheim. I think it is unrealistic to make any assumptions about them.

Hoenir

rndb2023 said:

Born_Again - I don't think I have answered my own question. The point being, one expects not to get the quoted mpg, or ml/kw but from brand new you expect it show that the range when fully charged is within the quoted value. it is not.

The range achieved will ultimately be determined by the manner in which it's driven, journey undertaken, accessories used etc. Would be no great surprise if manufacturers are therefore naturally cautious when displaying a fully charged range. As the final mileage achieved is going to vary considerably.  Be pointless somebody expecting to travel a long distance who drives aggressively to be left wondering why they are then 100 miles short on the range. Right foot control makes one heck of a difference as it does in a petrol car. 

TELLIT01

There are so many variables in the mileage out of a tank of petrol or the battery in an EV I very much doubt there is any hope of returning it on that basis.  Even with my petrol car I will only get about half the range from a full tank used on short runs compared to long journeys on a motorway or other higher speed roads.