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All 15 electric vehicles in AUTOBEST’s 2026 ECOBEST Challenge continued driving after their dashboards showed zero range or 0% charge. They averaged 10 miles (16 km), with results ranging from 0.6 miles (1 km) for the Xpeng P7+ to 19.9 miles (32 km) for the Leapmotor B10. The test measures distance after the warning point, not how much energy each vehicle had left or how far a driver should expect to travel.
All 15 electric vehicles in AUTOBEST’s 2026 ECOBEST Challenge kept moving after their dashboards showed zero remaining range or 0% battery charge, covering an average of 10 miles (16 km) before stopping. The distance varied sharply: the Leapmotor B10 traveled 19.9 miles (32 km) after the warning point, while the Xpeng P7+ managed 0.6 miles (1 km), according to results reported by InsideEVs.
The test measured how far each production-spec vehicle could travel after its dashboard indicated empty, rather than how far the cars could go on a full battery. The cars were driven in convoy near Milan, Italy, on a route that included city streets, country roads and highways. A lead vehicle set the pace, and drivers switched cars every 19 miles (30 km) to reduce the effect of individual driving styles.
Each car carried only its driver, was set to its standard driving mode, and had climate control on and tires inflated to recommended pressures. Temperatures ranged from 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C). The final part of the test took place at Quattroruote’s Vairano proving ground. Drivers continued after the dashboard reached zero until the vehicle could no longer move under its own power.
The Leapmotor B10 led at 19.9 miles, with the Tesla Model Y second at 19.3 miles (31 km). The Xpeng P7+ stopped after 0.6 miles. InsideEVs notes that the results table does not report the usable energy remaining when each car reached its warning point or the speed each vehicle maintained afterward. The distances alone do not show how much battery energy was left in each car.
Why Empty Warnings Vary by EV
The test shows that a dashboard’s zero-range warning is not a standardized promise of how many additional miles remain. The vehicles in this group test all traveled farther, but the gap between the shortest and longest results was substantial. Drivers cannot use one car’s result to predict what another EV will do, or treat the average as a personal reserve.
That distinction matters when a driver is deciding whether to continue toward a charger or stop for help. Conditions on the road, driving speed, temperature, terrain and vehicle-specific battery management can affect remaining range. The test establishes what these cars did under its stated conditions; it does not establish a safe distance to drive after a warning. A driver who sees zero should treat the display as a sign to seek charging or assistance, not as a guarantee that a fixed reserve remains.
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How EVs Define Zero Charge
An EV’s displayed state of charge and its estimated remaining range are related but distinct readings. A car can show 0% while still estimating a small amount of range, or show zero miles before the battery display reaches 0%. The report cites an earlier Tesla Model 3 range test in which the car showed 2 miles (3.2 km) remaining when its charge reached 0%, then traveled another 31 miles (50 km). That is a separate test, not a result from the 15 cars in AUTOBEST’s challenge.
As battery-cell voltage falls, a vehicle’s battery-management system limits or cuts power before the pack is completely depleted, in part to protect the cells. A displayed zero therefore refers to the car’s estimate of usable charge or range, not proof that no electrical energy remains in the battery. AUTOBEST used a Zeekr 7GT support vehicle with vehicle-to-load capability to help get stopped cars moving again, according to InsideEVs.
“All 15 EVs that took part in the group test kept moving after their dashboards showed empty, averaging 10 miles (16 km) before they stopped.”
— AUTOBEST, as reported by InsideEVs
What the Distance Results Cannot Show
The published results do not specify how much usable energy remained in each vehicle when its dashboard reached zero, nor the speed each car maintained after that point. Without those details, the distances cannot show that one vehicle had a proportionally larger battery reserve than another. For example, the Leapmotor’s 19.9-mile result is about 32 times the Xpeng’s 0.6-mile result, but that ratio describes distance traveled in this test, not battery energy remaining.
It is also unclear from the supplied report how each vehicle’s warning point was defined for the test when the display’s charge percentage and range estimate could reach zero at different times. The results reflect the stated route, temperatures, vehicle settings and test procedure. They do not predict what an individual car will do in different weather, traffic, terrain or battery condition, and they do not establish a recommended distance to drive after the warning.
Using the Results on the Road
The test offers a comparison of these 15 EVs under controlled conditions, but drivers should not plan trips around the extra miles observed. When the dashboard reaches zero, the prudent next step is to head toward a charger if one is safely reachable or contact roadside assistance, rather than relying on the test average or another model’s result.
The report does not announce a follow-up test or provide additional measurements of remaining battery energy. Further comparisons would be more informative if they reported charge or usable energy at the warning point alongside speed and distance. Until then, the main confirmed finding is limited: every car in this particular test moved beyond its dashboard’s empty indication, but the amount varied widely.
Key Questions
How far did the EVs travel after showing empty?
The 15 cars averaged 10 miles (16 km) after their dashboards showed zero range or 0% charge. Individual results ranged from 0.6 miles (1 km) for the Xpeng P7+ to 19.9 miles (32 km) for the Leapmotor B10.
Which EV went farthest after its dashboard showed empty?
The Leapmotor B10 traveled 19.9 miles (32 km), followed by the Tesla Model Y at 19.3 miles (31 km), according to the reported test results.
Does 0% mean an EV battery is completely empty?
No. The report explains that the displayed percentage and estimated range do not always reach zero at the same time. A vehicle’s battery management system can limit or cut power before the pack is completely discharged.
Can I count on driving 10 more miles after my EV says empty?
No. Ten miles was the average in one test, not a guarantee for an individual car or trip. The reported distances varied widely, and conditions such as temperature, speed, terrain and battery condition may affect a vehicle’s remaining range.
Source: insideevs.com
