Electric vehicle (EV) fleet operators often have concerns about the range of the vehicle compared with a fossil-fuel vehicle when they are considering purchasing one. EVs aren’t always the best when it comes to range, but in many cases they are more fuel efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which means they can lower fuel costs in many cases. But the question is Which is good MPGe vs MPG?
Understanding MPGe
When buying a vehicle, it is important to know how far it can travel on a gallon of gas or how efficient it is. A vehicle’s Miles per gallon (MPG) is usually the best indicator of its efficiency and how often it will need to be fueled.
The fuel economy of an electric vehicle differs from that of an ICE vehicle since it doesn’t burn fuel, but instead uses a battery to store electric energy rather than burning fuel. A gas or diesel tank isn’t filled up with fuel when you drive an electric vehicle. Instead, you plug it in and use electricity to charge it, measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). Therefore, miles per kWh is the equivalent of MPG for an electric vehicle.
Fuel economy is widely acknowledged as a way to drive further on a gallon of gas. EVs are no different, but when presented with a miles per kWh value you may not know how efficient the vehicle is. Drivers need to understand their potential vehicle’s fuel economy, so miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) was developed.
What is MPGe?
EVs are able to offer the same level of efficiency as traditional ICEs by converting electric kWhs to gasoline gallons. An equivalent amount of energy is provided by a kWh of energy compared to the energy a gallon of gasoline provides by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In accordance with the EPA estimates, one gallon of gasoline produces 33.7 kWh of electricity, which is applicable to all vehicles.
In 2010, the EPA developed MPGe, a measure of fuel efficiency that allows drivers to make an informed choice when considering an energy-efficient vehicle. The MPGe rating of each new electric vehicle is displayed on its EPA fuel efficiency label, and the information is also available on the EPA website.
Calculating MPGe
All you need are two values about your vehicle to calculate MPGe: the range in miles and the battery capacity in kWh, which are both listed by the manufacturer. The miles per kWh efficiency of the EV is calculated by dividing its range by its battery capacity, and then multiplying that value by 33.7 to find the estimated MPGe of your vehicle.
It is true that MPG or MPGe can vary depending on the driving conditions in both electric and ICE vehicles.
A less accurate estimate may come from relying on the range and battery capacity provided by manufacturers. If you already have an EV, you can calculate a more accurate MPGe based on the energy consumed and the actual kilometers driven.
An ICE vehicle loses a large amount of energy through heat, so EVs utilize energy more efficiently. In fact, ICE vehicles are only able to convert 12-30 percent of the energy they refuel. The average MPG of an ICE passenger car is 24 to 30 MPG, whereas the current EVs on the market can get 100 MPGe and more. For the same amount of energy, that’s four times more range.
Save on fuel costs
Gas prices have fluctuated wildly over the last few years, making it difficult to predict the cost to fuel your fleet. Efficiency is a key factor driving costs, but cost of fuel is also a key factor driving costs. Electricity prices, on the other hand, remain relatively stable and are trending downward.
While electricity prices fluctuate throughout the day, they do so in a predictable manner, which fleets can take advantage of.
In addition to ensuring that fleets are charging at the lowest price possible, charge management software can also ensure that operations are not impacted.
Your fleet needs to consider many factors when deciding whether to invest in an electric vehicle, including fuel economy. For organizations looking to scale efficiency across their fleet operations, EVs provide a competitive option when taking into account the efficiency gains of electric vehicles and, the stable price of electricity.
EV Fuel Efficiency Comparison Chart
This chart compares the fuel efficiency of a few recent EV models.
| Combined MPGe | kWh/100 Miles | Annual Fuel Cost | Range | |
| 2022 Tesla Model S | 120 MPGe | 28 kWh/100 miles | $550 | 405 miles |
| 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 120 MPGe | 28 kWh/100 miles | $550 | 259 miles |
| 2022 Rivian R1S | 60 MPGe | 49 kWh/100 miles | $950 | 316 miles |
This chart was compiled using information from the U.S. Department of Energy. Annual fuel cost is based on 45% highway and 55% city driving, 15,000 annual miles, and recent fuel prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is MPGe higher than MPG?
The traditional MPG measures how far your vehicle can travel using one gallon of gasoline, but hybrids and electric vehicles can operate with less gasoline. The “MPGe” measure is a better indicator of how energy is consumed by fleets of electric vehicles.
How to convert MPG to MPGe?
An MPGe score is calculated by the amount of miles a vehicle can travel on 33.7kWh of electricity per year. Therefore, if a car can travel 60 miles on three hours of electricity, its MPGe is 60. This is comparable to a car that gets 60 miles per gallon of gasoline.
How many miles per gallon is 100 MPGe?
EVs would need to travel 100 miles on 33.7 kilowatt hours of electricity (equivalent to one gallon of gasoline) to receive an MPGe of 100 (100 miles on one gallon of gasoline).
What is a good MPGe rating?
Gas-powered cars earning 35 miles per gallon are considered great. EVs can achieve 100 MPGe easily. MPGe, or miles per gallon equivalent, is a measure of an EV’s efficiency with electrical power.
