What this tool does
This tool converts Miles Per Gallon Equivalent (MPGe), the US standard for measuring electric vehicle efficiency, to kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers (kWh/100 km), the European standard. MPGe was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help consumers compare electric vehicles to traditional gasoline vehicles, where 33.705 kWh of electricity is considered equivalent to the energy in one gallon of gasoline. However, most of the world uses kWh/100 km, which directly measures how much electrical energy an EV consumes to travel 100 kilometers. This converter bridges the gap between these two measurement systems, enabling car buyers, automotive journalists, and EV enthusiasts to compare vehicles across different markets and specifications. The tool provides instant conversion along with efficiency ratings and comparisons to popular electric vehicles.
How it works
The conversion uses a mathematical formula that accounts for both the energy equivalence and the distance unit conversion. The EPA defines one gallon of gasoline as equivalent to 33.705 kWh of electrical energy. MPGe tells you how many miles an electric vehicle can travel on that amount of energy. To convert to kWh/100 km, the formula is: kWh/100 km = 3370.5 / (MPGe x 1.60934). The numerator 3370.5 comes from multiplying the energy content (33.705 kWh) by 100 to get the per-100-km basis. The denominator multiplies the MPGe value by 1.60934 to convert miles to kilometers. This inverse relationship means that higher MPGe values (more efficient in US terms) result in lower kWh/100 km values (also more efficient in European terms). For example, a vehicle rated at 120 MPGe consumes approximately 17.45 kWh per 100 kilometers.
Who should use this
This converter serves several key audiences in the electric vehicle ecosystem. International car buyers shopping for US-market vehicles need this tool to compare EPA ratings with the European WLTP specifications they are familiar with. Automotive journalists and reviewers writing for global audiences use it to present efficiency data in formats their readers understand. Fleet managers for multinational companies rely on this conversion when evaluating vehicles across different markets for procurement decisions. Electric vehicle enthusiasts and researchers comparing efficiency data from different sources find it essential for creating apples-to-apples comparisons. Additionally, travelers planning long-distance EV trips across continents use the converter to estimate charging requirements when moving between regions that use different measurement standards.
Worked examples
Example 1: A Tesla Model 3 Long Range has an EPA rating of 130 MPGe. Using the formula: kWh/100 km = 3370.5 / (130 x 1.60934) = 3370.5 / 209.21 = 16.11 kWh/100 km. This means the vehicle consumes approximately 16.11 kilowatt-hours of electricity for every 100 kilometers driven.
Example 2: A Ford F-150 Lightning has an EPA rating of approximately 70 MPGe. Converting: kWh/100 km = 3370.5 / (70 x 1.60934) = 3370.5 / 112.65 = 29.92 kWh/100 km. This higher value reflects the greater energy consumption of a larger electric pickup truck compared to a sedan.
Example 3: A Hyundai Ioniq 6 with an exceptional EPA rating of 140 MPGe converts to: kWh/100 km = 3370.5 / (140 x 1.60934) = 3370.5 / 225.31 = 14.96 kWh/100 km. This excellent efficiency means lower charging costs and longer range per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity.
Limitations
Several important limitations apply to this conversion tool. First, EPA MPGe ratings and European WLTP kWh/100 km figures are derived from different testing procedures, so converted values may not exactly match official European ratings for the same vehicle. The EPA uses a specific test cycle that differs from the WLTP cycle used in Europe, meaning real-world consumption can vary. Second, the conversion assumes the EPA-defined energy equivalence of 33.705 kWh per gallon, which is a standardized value that may not reflect actual charging losses or battery efficiency variations. Third, the tool provides theoretical conversions and does not account for factors like temperature, driving style, terrain, or accessory usage that significantly impact real-world energy consumption. Finally, combined MPGe ratings may mask differences between city and highway efficiency that could be significant for certain driving patterns.
FAQs
Q: Why do the US and Europe use different efficiency measurements? A: The US chose MPGe to help consumers familiar with MPG compare electric vehicles to gasoline cars using a familiar scale. Europe uses kWh/100 km because it directly measures electricity consumption, making it easier to calculate charging costs and compare EVs without reference to gasoline.
Q: Is a higher or lower kWh/100 km value better? A: Lower is better. A lower kWh/100 km value means the vehicle uses less energy to travel the same distance, indicating higher efficiency. This translates to lower charging costs and potentially greater range.
Q: Why does my converted value differ from the official European rating? A: EPA and WLTP testing procedures differ significantly. EPA tests tend to produce more conservative (lower) efficiency ratings than WLTP tests. The conversion provides a mathematical equivalent but not an identical test result.
Q: Can I use this to calculate charging costs? A: Yes. Multiply the kWh/100 km value by your electricity price per kWh, then divide by 100 to get the cost per kilometer. For example, at 17 kWh/100 km and 0.15 EUR/kWh, the cost would be 2.55 EUR per 100 km.
Q: What is a good kWh/100 km value for an electric vehicle? A: Values under 15 kWh/100 km are considered excellent, 15-18 is good, 18-22 is average, and above 22 is below average. Smaller, aerodynamic vehicles typically achieve better efficiency than larger SUVs or trucks.
Explore Similar Tools
Explore more tools like this one:
- MPGe to kWh per 100 Miles Converter — Convert Miles Per Gallon Equivalent (MPGe) to... - Miles per kWh to kWh per 100 km Converter — Convert electric vehicle efficiency from miles per... - kWh per 100 km to kWh per 100 Miles Converter — Convert electric vehicle energy consumption from... - Kilometers per kWh to kWh per 100 km Converter — Convert EV efficiency from km/kWh to kWh/100km energy... - MPGe to Miles per kWh Converter — Convert Miles Per Gallon Equivalent (MPGe) to miles per...