MPGe Calculator

When exploring electric vehicles (EVs), you'll often come across the term MPGe, but what does it actually mean? MPGe stands for Miles Per Gallon equivalent, a metric introduced by the boffins at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2010 to put electric vehicles (EVs) and their gas-powered counterparts on a level playing field. Let's dive into what MPGe is, how it's calculated and why it should matter to you, the discerning motorist.

What is MPGe?

MPGe is a measure that helps consumers compare the energy consumption of electric vehicles with the fuel economy of gasoline vehicles. It represents the number of miles an EV can travel using a quantity of electricity with the same energy content as one gallon of gasoline. It’s the EPA’s attempt to make sure apples are compared to apples, or in our case, volts to petrol droplets. 2

Fuel economy and environment label example (from 2011). Interactive example here.

How is MPGe calculated?

The calculation of MPGe is based on the energy content of a gallon of gasoline, which is approximately 33.7 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. Determining how far an electric vehicle can travel on 33.7 kWh of energy gives us the MPGe of the vehicle. So, for example, if your EV can travel 100 miles on 33.7 kWh, its MPGe would be 100 MPGe. Simple!

Why is MPGe important?

There’s are several reasons why MPGe might be considered more than just a number:

• Energy Efficiency Comparison: MPGe provides a direct way to compare the energy efficiency of electric vehicles with gasoline vehicles.
• Environmental Impact: Understanding MPGe can help consumers make informed decisions about the environmental impact of their vehicle choice, as higher MPGe ratings indicate more efficient energy use and potentially lower CO2 emissions.
• Cost Savings: By choosing a vehicle with a higher MPGe rating, consumers can anticipate lower energy costs over the life of the vehicle compared to less efficient models or traditional gasoline vehicles.

While MPGe offers a standardized measure to compare the efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs), it's important to acknowledge that real-world MPGe can vary significantly due to driving habits and environmental conditions.

Factors such as acceleration speed, terrain, temperature, and the use of in-car accessories all play a role in determining the actual energy efficiency an EV achieves. It is widely recognized, for example, that colder temperatures slow down the chemical reactions within an EV's battery, meaning they can lose up to 30% of their range in very cold conditions. 4

Understanding and adapting to the factors we've mentioned can help drivers optimize their vehicle's performance and efficiency. To help you further, MYEV has an article with some ideas on how to maximise your EV's efficiency, from accelerating more slowly to maintaining your tyre pressures and turning down the AC and heating.

Which cars have the the best MPGe?

We've looked at what MPGe is and why it is referenced. Let's now examine the MPGe ratings of the top 10 best-selling EVs 3. As an extra stat, we'll also thrown in their estimated annual cost based on 15,000 miles of use and $0.15/kWh cost of electricity.

And here are the EVs with the highest MPGe (note that Lucid have several models of the Air and Tesla have several models of the 3 and Y): 1

Frequently asked questions about MPGe

Here are a few other common questions about MPGe:

How does MPGe relate to my electricity bill?

MPGe gives you an overall idea of an electric vehicle's efficiency, but your actual electricity costs will depend on your local electricity rates and how much you drive. You can use MPGe as a baseline to estimate energy consumption and compare it to the kWh per 100 miles (or kWh per 100 km) metrics for more precise cost calculations.

Is a higher MPGe always better?

Generally, yes. A higher MPGe rating indicates that an electric vehicle can travel further on the same amount of energy, meaning it has better efficiency and potentially costs you less in terms of your energy bill. Of course, when assessing the vehicle's total cost of ownership, you have to weigh up the cost of purchasing, insuring and maintaining the vehicle against the savings achieved by having higher efficiency.

How does MPGe compare to miles per kWh?

While MPGe measures how far an EV can travel on the energy equivalent to one gallon of gasoline, miles per kWh directly measures how many miles an EV can travel on one kilowatt-hour of electricity. Both metrics are useful for understanding EV efficiency, but from different perspectives.

Feedback

I hope this calculator and article have helped give you a better understanding of MPGe, so that you can better gauge the performance of your electric vehicle. As always, if you have any feedback or suggestions for the calculator, please get in touch.

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