At first glance, an electric vehicle might seem the same as a gas-powered ride, but aside from the wheels and the seats, pretty much everything is different. Even how their fuel efficiencies are measured.
While the efficiency of internal-combustion-engined (ICE) vehicles are measured in miles per gallon (MPG), electric vehicles are measured in MPGe, an entirely new label that didn’t even exist when Elon Musk first purchased Tesla. What that little “e” means takes a bit of context and explaining, so Car Autance’ editors have laid it all out in a quick and easy guide. Time to plug in.
What Is MPG?
As mentioned, MPG stands for miles per gallon. It is a measurement used to quantify the fuel efficiency of a fossil-fuel-powered vehicle.
What Is MPGe?
MPGe, which stands for miles per gallon equivalent, is the measurement used to mark the fuel efficiency of a hybrid or electric vehicle. It is used just like MPG, but it is calculated much differently.
How Is MPGe Calculated?
As specified by the United States Department of Energy, 33.70 kWh of electricity has 100 percent of the energy of one gallon of gasoline, so a vehicle that can travel 100 miles on 33.70 kWh of energy is rated at 100 MPGe.
Top Tips For Maximizing Your EV’s Range
Your car’s fuel efficiency is determined by how you drive and the driving conditions. Read up to learn how to keep your MPGe numbers up.
Relax Your Inputs
As with a car with an internal combustion engine, stomping on your stop and go pedals will be the downfall of your fuel efficiency. Flooring it pulls maximum energy to get your vehicle up to speed as quickly as possible, and hard braking could equate to throttle inputs you might not have needed in the first place.
Use Less Accessories
Guess what needs electricity to operate? Air conditioning, chargers, and every other accessory in your car. The more you use for accessories, the less you’ll have for power.
Leave the Baggage at Home
The heavier something is, the harder it is to move, so it requires more energy for motivation. Keeping things in your car can be a good safety precaution, but there’s no reason to keep your drum kit in the back. Your REM cover band hasn’t played in four months.
Stay Out of the Cold
Cold weather saps the life out of lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric vehicles. Know that if you’re driving in colder temperatures that your range will be significantly less distance than normal.
Avoid Elevation
Your car will require more energy to climb up a hill than it does to coast down a highway, so keep that in mind when driving around mountainous terrain.
The Car Autance Glossary of Terms
Welcome to Autance School!
EV
EV stands for an electric vehicle. The two types of available electric vehicles today are BEVs, or battery electric vehicles, and FCEVs, or fuel cell electric vehicles.
kWh
kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, a unit of energy figured by the amount of kilowatts used in an hour.
Range
Range, which is measured in miles, is the distance your car is expected to travel on either a full tank of gas, a fully charged battery pack or a combination of both.
Battery Electric Vehicles With the Best MPGe for 2020
Combined MPGe
- Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (141 MPGe)
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric (133 MPGe)
- Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (131 MPGe)
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range (130 MPGe)
- Tesla Model 3 Mid Range (123 MPGe)
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD (121 MPGe)
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range Performance (121 MPGe)
- Telsa Model Y Long Range AWD (121 MPGe)
- Tesla Model Y Performance AWD (121 MPGe)
- Hyundai Kona Electric (120 MPGe)
Bonus 2021 Models
- Tesla Model S Performance on 19-inch Wheels (110 MPGe)
- Mini Cooper SE (108 MPGe)
- Tesla Model X Long Range Plus (105 MPGe)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD (100 MPGe)
- Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S (97 MPGe)
Your Questions, Our Answers on MPGe
Q: Who Developed the MPGe Rating System?
A: The new fuel economy label and MPGe rating system was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Q: When Was MPGe Invented?
A: The first car to receive an MPGe rating was the 2011 Nissan Leaf, which launched the new-look EPA label in 2010. It was rated at 106 MPGe city, 92 MPGe city, and 99 MPGe combined. It was rated to have a range of 73 miles.
Q: Should I Charge My Electric Car Every Night?
A: If the energy stores are not depleted, you don’t need to. In fact, charging to 100 percent every single night could damage the battery pack’s longevity.
The Video Tutorial on MPGe
The Related Products
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Leviton Evr-Green 400 EV Charger
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