TL;DR
In AUTOBEST’s 2026 ECOBEST Challenge, all 15 tested EVs continued moving after their dashboards indicated zero range or 0% charge. They traveled an average of 10 miles (16 km) before stopping, but individual results varied widely, from 0.6 miles to 19.9 miles.
All 15 electric vehicles in AUTOBEST’s 2026 ECOBEST Challenge kept moving after their dashboards showed zero remaining range or 0% battery charge, traveling an average of 10 miles (16 km) before stopping. The spread was wide: the Leapmotor B10 traveled 19.9 miles (32 km) after empty, while the Xpeng P7+ managed just 0.6 miles (1 km), according to InsideEVs’ report on the test.
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The Leapmotor B10 recorded the longest post-empty distance, narrowly ahead of the Tesla Model Y, which went 19.3 miles (31 km). The Xpeng P7+ was at the other end of the results, stopping after 0.6 miles. These figures describe how far each vehicle traveled after its dashboard reached the test’s empty threshold; they do not establish how much usable energy remained in each battery at that point.
Journalists drove production-spec vehicles in a convoy on a route near Milan, Italy, that included city streets, country roads and highways. A lead car set the pace, and drivers switched vehicles every 19 miles (30 km) to reduce the influence of different driving styles. Each car carried only its driver, used standard rather than Eco mode, had climate control on and ran tires at the recommended pressures. Temperatures were between 68 and 77°F (20–25°C).
The final part of the test took place at the Vairano proving ground. When a vehicle displayed zero range or 0% charge, its driver continued until it could no longer move under its own power. A Zeekr 7GT support car used its vehicle-to-load function to help restart vehicles that stopped. InsideEVs reported that AUTOBEST published the distances, but its results table did not include the remaining usable energy or the speeds driven after the empty indication.
Why Post-Empty Range Varies
The results show that a zero-range warning is not a dependable promise of a particular extra distance. Drivers might have a short margin to reach a nearby charger, but the 0.6-mile to 19.9-mile spread in this test makes it risky to count on a large reserve. The test average of 10 miles is a group result, not a guarantee for any individual car or trip.
For drivers, the practical takeaway is to treat the dashboard’s empty warning as a signal to find charging, not as a new range estimate. Remaining distance can depend on the vehicle and driving conditions, and the report does not provide enough detail to turn its results into a reliable roadside rule. A driver who runs out of power may need assistance, even if another model in the test continued for many miles.
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What the Empty Reading Means
A dashboard can show 0% charge and zero predicted miles at different times. The charge percentage estimates remaining usable battery energy, while the range display estimates how far that energy may take the car. One reading reaching zero does not necessarily mean the other has also reached zero.
According to the report, EVs retain a battery buffer rather than allowing the pack to drain completely. As cell voltage falls, the vehicle eventually limits or cuts power before the battery reaches a level that could damage its cells. That can leave some energy in the pack even when the car can no longer drive. The existence of a buffer does not mean all of it is available to a driver as extra range.
InsideEVs also cited a separate Tesla Model 3 range test in which the vehicle still showed 2 miles (3.2 km) of range when its charge reached 0%, then traveled another 31 miles (50 km). That is a separate test, not a result from the AUTOBEST comparison, and it does not establish what other EVs will do.
What the Test Does Not Show
The published results do not show the usable energy remaining when each dashboard reached empty, or the speed each vehicle maintained during its final miles. Without those measurements, the distance figures cannot reveal why one car went farther or how much energy was available in its battery. In particular, the 19.9-mile and 0.6-mile results should not be read as evidence that one car had a proportionally larger battery reserve.
The source material also does not provide the full results table or a model-by-model account of driving conditions during each vehicle’s final stretch. The test offers a comparison under its stated route and setup, but it does not establish how far the same vehicles would travel after empty in different weather, at other speeds, or under different load and road conditions.
How Drivers Should Use the Results
The next useful step would be publication of more detailed test data, including each vehicle’s remaining usable energy and speed after its empty warning. Those details could help explain the large differences between the cars. Until then, the reported distances are best treated as observations from one controlled comparison, not as a prediction for everyday driving.
Drivers should follow their vehicle’s low-range warnings and plan to charge before the display reaches zero. If the car can no longer move, the test does not support assuming it will restart or reach a charger without help. AUTOBEST’s reported results establish that these 15 vehicles had some post-warning movement under the test conditions; they do not establish a safe reserve for future trips.
Key Questions
How far did the tested EVs travel after showing empty?
The 15 cars averaged 10 miles (16 km) after their dashboards showed zero remaining range or 0% charge. The reported distance ranged from 0.6 miles to 19.9 miles.
Which EV went farthest in the test?
The Leapmotor B10 traveled 19.9 miles (32 km) after empty. The Tesla Model Y followed at 19.3 miles (31 km).
Does a zero-range display mean the battery is completely empty?
No. The report explains that EVs retain a battery buffer and limit power before the cells are fully drained. A zero display means the car has reached its indicated limit, not that a driver can count on a particular amount of extra range.
Can I use the test to predict my own EV’s reserve?
No. The results describe specific cars in one test. The report does not provide the remaining usable energy for each vehicle at the empty reading, and conditions such as speed and weather can differ on other trips.
What should I do when my EV shows zero range?
Treat the warning as a prompt to reach a charger or arrange assistance, rather than relying on the extra miles reported in this test. The observed distances varied substantially between vehicles.
Source: insideevs.com
