What this tool does
This tool converts electric vehicle efficiency measurements between miles per kilowatt-hour and other common EV energy units. Miles per kWh is one of the most practical efficiency metrics for EV drivers because it directly relates to how far you can drive on a given amount of energy. This converter handles both efficiency-based metrics (miles per kWh, km per kWh, MPGe) and consumption-based metrics (kWh per 100 miles, Wh per mile), properly managing the inverse mathematical relationships between these two categories of measurement. All conversions are bidirectional and accurate to multiple decimal places.
How it calculates
The tool uses miles per kWh as its base unit. For distance-based conversions: km/kWh = mi/kWh × 1.60934. For consumption-based inversions: kWh/100 miles = 100 / mi/kWh, and Wh/mile = 1000 / mi/kWh. For MPGe conversion: MPGe = mi/kWh × 33.705, where 33.705 kWh is the energy content of one US gallon of gasoline. The tool first converts any input to miles per kWh, then converts to the target unit.
Who should use this
- **EV owners** tracking real-world efficiency and estimating range from battery capacity - **Prospective EV buyers** comparing efficiency across different models and brands - **Fleet operators** standardizing efficiency reporting across mixed EV fleets - **Charging network planners** estimating energy demand based on vehicle efficiency data
Worked examples
Example 1: An EV averaging 3.5 mi/kWh converts to km/kWh: 3.5 × 1.60934 = 5.633 km/kWh. Example 2: Converting 3.5 mi/kWh to kWh/100 miles: 100 / 3.5 = 28.57 kWh/100 miles. Example 3: Converting 3.5 mi/kWh to MPGe: 3.5 × 33.705 = 117.97 MPGe. Example 4: An EV rated at 16 kWh/100km converts to mi/kWh: first to kWh/100mi (16 × 1.60934 = 25.75), then 100 / 25.75 = 3.88 mi/kWh.
Limitations
Real-world miles per kWh varies significantly based on driving speed, temperature, terrain, use of climate control, and vehicle load. Highway driving at high speeds reduces efficiency substantially compared to city driving. Cold weather can reduce efficiency by 20-40% due to battery heating and cabin heating needs. This tool provides exact mathematical conversions but cannot predict real-world efficiency.
FAQs
Q: What is a good miles per kWh rating for an EV? A: Most modern EVs achieve 3-4 miles per kWh under mixed driving conditions. Highly efficient models like the Tesla Model 3 or Hyundai Ioniq 6 can exceed 4 mi/kWh, while larger SUVs and trucks may achieve 2-3 mi/kWh.
Q: How do I estimate my EV's range using miles per kWh? A: Multiply your battery capacity (in kWh) by your efficiency. For example, a 75 kWh battery at 3.5 mi/kWh gives approximately 262 miles of range.
Q: Why does my actual mi/kWh differ from the EPA rating? A: EPA ratings are based on standardized test cycles. Real-world efficiency varies with speed, temperature, terrain, tire pressure, and accessory use. Cold weather has the largest impact, potentially reducing efficiency by 20-40%.
Q: Is miles per kWh or kWh per 100 miles more useful? A: Both convey the same information inversely. Miles per kWh is intuitive for estimating range, while kWh per 100 miles is better for calculating electricity costs per trip.
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