If you grew up judging cars by miles per gallon, today’s electric car fuel economy numbers can feel like alphabet soup. MPGe, kWh per 100 miles, miles per kWh – they’re all trying to answer a simple question: how far will this thing go, and what will it cost me? Let’s translate the window-sticker hieroglyphics into something you can actually use, especially if you’re thinking about a used EV.
Quick definition
When you see MPGe, think: “If this EV were burning gasoline, how many miles per gallon would it effectively be getting?” It’s just a common yardstick so you can compare electric cars to gas cars.
Why electric car fuel economy feels so confusing
Gas cars are simple. For a century you’ve measured economy in miles per gallon. One fuel, one unit. You know that 20 MPG is bad, 30 MPG is decent, and 40+ MPG is saintly Prius territory.
With EVs, there is no gallon. There is a 33.7 kWh “gallon-equivalent” cooked up by the EPA so we can compare electricity to gasoline on paper. That’s where MPGe comes from.
EVs use electricity directly. So engineers prefer to talk in kWh per 100 miles (how much energy you burn to go 100 miles) or miles per kWh (how far you go on one unit of energy). Those numbers are actually more useful than MPGe once you get the hang of them.
Layer in range, battery size, temperature, and driving style, and suddenly fuel economy feels like a physics exam. It doesn’t have to.
The rule-of-thumb translation
Once you know an EV’s kWh per 100 miles, you can mentally convert everything else. Divide 100 by that number to get miles per kWh. Higher is better, just like MPG.
How electric car fuel economy is measured: MPGe, kWh and more
The three fuel-economy numbers that actually matter
Let’s decode the labels you’ll see on a new or used EV, starting with the stuff the EPA actually prints on the window sticker.
- MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) – A comparison tool. The EPA assumes 33.7 kWh of electricity contains the same energy as one gallon of gas. If an EV is rated at 120 MPGe, it means it travels as far on 33.7 kWh as a 120 MPG gas car would travel on a gallon of gas.
- kWh per 100 miles – How much energy the car needs to travel 100 miles. Lower is better, just like fewer gallons per 100 miles would be better in a gas car.
- Miles per kWh – The enthusiast’s favorite. It’s simply 100 ÷ (kWh per 100 miles). If the car uses 25 kWh per 100 miles, that’s 4 miles per kWh.
- City / Highway / Combined – Just like MPG, EVs have different ratings for city and highway. City is often better because regen braking recovers energy you’d normally throw away as heat.
Don’t obsess over MPGe alone
MPGe tells you how efficiently the car uses energy, not how much you’ll actually spend to drive it. Your local electricity price and how often you use expensive DC fast chargers matter just as much.
Electric vs gas fuel economy: What the numbers actually say
Fuel economy: electric vs gas at a glance
How a typical modern EV stacks up against a modern gas car in both efficiency and energy cost.
| Vehicle type | Typical economy | Energy use per 100 miles | Energy price (avg) | Energy cost per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric car | 115 MPGe (≈27 kWh/100 mi) | ≈27 kWh | $0.16 per kWh | ≈$4.30 |
| Gas sedan | 35 MPG | ≈2.9 gal | $3.15 per gal | ≈$9.14 |
| Efficient hybrid | 50 MPG | ≈2.0 gal | $3.15 per gal | ≈$6.30 |
National averages as of 2024–2025; your local prices may vary.
In pure energy terms, modern EVs are brutally efficient. Many sit comfortably over 100 MPGe, and the most svelte models push toward 130–140 MPGe. A typical gas sedan lives in the 30–35 MPG neighborhood. That’s roughly a 3x improvement in miles per unit of energy for the EV.
Translate that into dollars and, on average U.S. energy prices, you land around 4–5 cents of electricity per mile for an efficient EV versus 8–10 cents of gasoline per mile for a comparable gas car. Where electricity is cheap and gas is high, the gap gets comical. Where electricity is eye‑wateringly expensive and you rely heavily on DC fast charging, the gap can shrink or even disappear.
Fuel economy vs total ownership cost
Even with better fuel economy, brand‑new EVs can still have higher overall ownership costs than gas cars because of purchase price and depreciation. That’s exactly where a used EV with verified battery health can be a sweet spot.
Real-world EV efficiency: What drivers actually see
EPA ratings are like a dating profile: directionally honest, selectively optimistic. Out in the actual world, your electric car fuel economy will wander above and below the label based on speed, terrain, weather and how heavy your right foot is.
Typical real-world efficiency bands
Ballpark numbers for modern EVs, not gospel truth.
Compact & efficient
Think Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 6.
- ~22–26 kWh / 100 miles
- ≈3.8–4.5 mi/kWh
- Often 120–140 MPGe
Crossover & small SUV
Think Chevy Equinox EV, Hyundai Kona Electric.
- ~26–31 kWh / 100 miles
- ≈3.2–3.8 mi/kWh
- Roughly 100–120 MPGe
Large SUV & pickup
Think three-row SUVs and electric trucks.
- 30+ kWh / 100 miles
- Under 3 mi/kWh
- Often below 90 MPGe
A simple sanity check
If an EV claims 300 miles of range from a 77 kWh battery, that’s about 25.7 kWh per 100 miles or 3.9 mi/kWh. If your driving screen is showing 36 kWh per 100 miles every day, you’re either driving very fast, living in deep winter – or both.
What really impacts electric car fuel economy
Six big levers that move your EV’s fuel economy
1. Speed and aerodynamics
Above about 60 mph, aerodynamic drag climbs like a ski jump. Running 80 mph can easily use 20–30% more energy than cruising at 65 mph in the same car.
2. Temperature and climate control
Cold weather thickens battery chemistry and increases cabin-heating loads. You can see a 20–40% efficiency hit in freezing temperatures, especially on short trips where the cabin is constantly reheating.
3. Vehicle size and weight
A sleek sedan simply cuts through the air more easily than a brick-shaped SUV. Big, tall, boxy vehicles need more kWh per mile no matter what powers them.
4. Tires and wheels
Wide performance tires and big wheels look great but hurt efficiency. Low-rolling-resistance tires and sensible wheel sizes can add noticeable miles of range.
5. Driving style
Smooth, anticipatory driving lets regen do its work and keeps energy use low. Aggressive acceleration and constant lane‑changing waste the EV’s efficiency advantage.
6. HVAC and accessories
Heated seats and steering wheels are efficient. Old‑school resistive cabin heat is not. In summer, heavy A/C use will also nibble at your range, though less drastically than winter heating.
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Cold weather reality check
Every EV owner discovers this the first winter: your effective fuel economy can tank by a third in near‑freezing stop‑and‑go driving. The car isn’t broken; physics is just rude.
Fuel economy, battery size and range: How they fit together
Fuel economy is only half the picture; battery size is the other. Range = battery capacity ÷ consumption. Simple as that, but the combinations vary wildly.
How economy and battery size combine into range
Three simplified examples to show why two EVs with similar fuel economy can have very different ranges.
| EV type | Usable battery size | Efficiency | Estimated range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient sedan | 60 kWh | 25 kWh/100 mi (4.0 mi/kWh) | ≈240 miles |
| Mid-size crossover | 80 kWh | 28 kWh/100 mi (3.6 mi/kWh) | ≈285 miles |
| Large SUV | 100 kWh | 33 kWh/100 mi (3.0 mi/kWh) | ≈300 miles |
Approximate numbers for illustration only.
Why a big battery isn’t always better
A larger pack can give you more range but also adds weight and cost. For many households, an efficient 250–280‑mile EV paired with home charging is more livable – and cheaper – than chasing a giant 350‑mile battery.
Cost per mile: Turning fuel economy into dollars
Here’s where electric car fuel economy stops being an abstract number and starts paying your utility bill instead of the oil company’s. You don’t buy kWh; you buy miles of life back from gas stations.
Step 1: Estimate your EV’s consumption
Grab the window sticker or manufacturer specs and look for kWh per 100 miles. If you’re buying used, many cars also show a long‑term average in the infotainment system.
Example: Your crossover is rated at 28 kWh per 100 miles.
Step 2: Multiply by local electricity price
Check your utility bill for your all‑in rate, including fees. Say you’re paying $0.16 per kWh.
28 kWh × $0.16 = $4.48 per 100 miles, or about 4.5 cents per mile.
Step 3: Compare with a gas car
Take a comparable gas SUV that gets 30 MPG. At $3.15 per gallon, 100 miles uses 3.33 gallons:
3.33 × $3.15 = $10.49 per 100 miles, or about 10.5 cents per mile.
Drive 12,000 miles a year and you’re looking at roughly $540 in electricity vs $1,260 in gasoline – about $700+ in annual fuel savings, assuming mostly home charging.
Public fast charging can change the math
DC fast chargers often bill at $0.25–$0.60 per kWh. At the high end of that range, your cost per mile can rival a gas car. To really benefit from EV fuel economy, plan to do most of your charging at home or at low‑cost workplace chargers.
Fuel economy, battery health and buying a used EV
When you’re shopping used EVs, the spec sheet only tells part of the story. The car may have been rated at 120 MPGe when it left the factory, but years of rapid charging, hot climates and high mileage can nibble at usable battery capacity – and therefore range.
How battery health shows up as “fuel economy”
You don’t burn more kWh per mile; you lose usable capacity.
Capacity loss
Over time, most EVs lose a small percentage of their original capacity. Instead of a 77 kWh pack with 74 kWh usable, you might effectively have 68–70 kWh available.
The car can still be efficient in kWh/100 miles, but it will travel fewer miles on a charge.
Displayed range drop
The surest sign is the car’s estimated range at 100% charge. If a model that shipped with a 300‑mile rating now shows 255–260 miles in similar conditions, you’re seeing the impact of age and use.
Where Recharged fits in
Every vehicle on Recharged comes with a Recharged Score Report, including verified battery health and realistic range estimates. Instead of guessing how much capacity is left, you see it in black and white – alongside fair market pricing and expert guidance.
How to check an EV’s fuel economy before you buy
Pre‑purchase fuel economy checklist for EV shoppers
1. Look up the official EPA rating
Search the model and year on the government fuel economy site or the manufacturer’s page. Note the MPGe and kWh per 100 miles for city, highway and combined.
2. Compare to similar vehicles
Don’t just look at the raw number; compare against other EVs of the same size and type. A boxy SUV will never match a slippery sedan, and that’s okay.
3. Ask for in-car efficiency history
On a test drive, pull up the trip computer. Many EVs show lifetime or long‑term kWh per 100 miles. If it’s way higher than the EPA rating, ask about driving conditions and usage.
4. Check real-world owner reports
Browse EV forums and owner groups. Look for people in a similar climate and driving pattern. Their reported miles per kWh will tell you more than a press release.
5. Factor in your charging reality
If you have off‑street parking, budget for a <strong>Level 2 home charger</strong>. If you’re mostly stuck with public DC fast chargers, treat the headline fuel-economy advantage with caution.
6. For used EVs, demand a battery report
Battery health is range. Range is usefulness. With Recharged, every used EV includes a <strong>Recharged Score battery health diagnostic</strong>, so you know what you’re buying before you sign anything.
Electric car fuel economy FAQ
Frequently asked questions about electric car fuel economy
The bottom line on electric car fuel economy
Strip away the acronyms and electric car fuel economy is refreshingly straightforward. An efficient EV quietly turns electrons into miles at roughly three times the rate of a comparable gas car, and if you can charge at home on reasonably priced electricity, your cost per mile will usually reflect that. MPGe is the marketing headline; kWh per 100 miles and your local electricity price are the truth serum.
If you’re shopping for a used EV, treat fuel economy and battery health as two sides of the same coin. Look up the original ratings, check real‑world efficiency, and insist on transparent battery diagnostics. With Recharged, that due diligence is baked in: every car comes with a Recharged Score battery report, fair pricing and EV‑savvy support from first click to delivery. You worry about where you want to go; we’ll help you understand exactly how many kWh it takes to get there.
