This work deals with the numerical and experimental investigation of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs). In the experiment, the current and voltage of DBD sustained in an argon flow in coaxial discharge cell are measured. Numerical models are based on the drift-diffusion theory of gas discharges. Different modelling approaches, where the electron kinetics is determined on the basis of the Maxwellian electron energy distribution function (EEDF), vs models with more realistic EEDF obtained from the solution of the electron Boltzmann equation are implemented. The effect of energy loss due to heating of the gas is considered.