Overview
ISO 8714:2023 - "Electric road vehicles - Reference energy consumption and range - Test procedures for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles" specifies standardized laboratory test procedures to determine the reference energy consumption (Wh/km) and reference range (km) of purely electrically propelled passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The standard applies to vehicles with a maximum authorised total mass of up to 3 500 kg and maximum speeds of 70 km/h or more, and it defines measurements performed on a chassis dynamometer using repeatable driving sequences.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test methods
- Consecutive Cycle Test (CCT): repeats an applicable driving test (ADT) cycle until end-of-test criteria are met.
- Shortened Test: runs a selected number of ADT cycles followed by a constant speed segment (CSS) (or optional constant-power DC discharge) to accelerate RESS discharge and shorten duration.
- Selection of ADT cycle and CSS speed
- Select a relevant regional ADT cycle; CSS speed is determined per methods in Annex B or by a relevant regional ADT standard.
- End-of-test criteria
- Defined for vehicles able to follow the speed trace and for vehicles with lower max speed, including on-board instrument warnings; stop within 60 s once criteria are met.
- Tolerances
- Speed tolerance ±2.0 km/h and time tolerance ±1.0 s, geometrically combined; a single deviation up to 4 s is allowed per cycle.
- Measurements and accuracy
- Specifies measurement of AC and DC electrical energy and distance, and required parameter units/accuracy (time, distance, energy). Results yield reference energy consumption (Wh/km) and reference range (km).
- Definitions and test mass
- Key terms include RESS (rechargeable energy storage system), complete electric vehicle kerb mass, and test mass (explicit mass calculation rules are provided).
Practical applications and users
ISO 8714:2023 is used by:
- Vehicle manufacturers for design validation, range and efficiency verification, and product claims.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies performing reproducible energy consumption and range testing on EVs.
- Regulators and policymakers for harmonised test methods when setting performance or labelling requirements.
- Researchers and fleet managers for benchmarking vehicle efficiency and operational range under standardised conditions.
Practical outcomes include comparable Wh/km figures for vehicle comparison, reliable range estimates for consumer information, and standardized test reports for conformity assessment.
Related standards
Normative references cited in the document include:
Keywords: ISO 8714:2023, electric road vehicles, reference energy consumption, reference range, test procedures, passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, chassis dynamometer, consecutive cycle test, shortened test, constant speed segment, RESS.
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