Energy consumption directly determines the environmental benefits and driving range of electric vehicles. The energy consumptions of vehicles are generally evaluated using standardized driving cycle tests; however, the results from standardized driving cycle tests deviate from the results characterizing real driving and present opportunities for cheating. The evaluation of the real-world driving energy consumptions of electric vehicles is becoming a requirement in proposed vehicle regulations. In this paper, a method for evaluating the energy consumption characteristics of electric vehicles under real world driving conditions is proposed. A simplified analytical function for estimating the energy consumption of an electric vehicle is derived. Using regression analysis, the effects of driving conditions are decoupled, and the independent energy consumption characteristics are obtained. Simulation and experimental data are used to validate the proposed method. The results show that the independent energy consumption characteristics obtained by the proposed method perfectly represent the energy consumptions of electric vehicles under different driving conditions. Therefore, the proposed method represents a possible alternative mechanism for extending the scope of energy consumption evaluations of electric vehicles, providing a basis for the comprehensive assessment of the environmental benefits of electric vehicles. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.