Electric car EPA fuel economy explained

The following table compares official EPA ratings for fuel economy (in miles per gallon gasoline equivalent, mpg-e or MPGe, for plug-in electric vehicles) for series production all-electric passenger vehicles rated by the EPA for model years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2023[1] versus the model year 2016 vehicles that were rated the most efficient by the EPA with plug-in hybrid drivetrains (Chevrolet Volt second generation), gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrains (Toyota Prius Eco - fourth generation),[2] [3] [4] and the average new vehicle for that model year, which has a fuel economy of 25mpgus.[5] [2]

EPA rating data are taken from manufacturer testing of their own vehicles, usually conducted using pre-production prototypes. Manufacturers report the results to EPA, which reviews the results and confirms about 15%–20% of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.[6]

Comparison of top fuel efficient battery-electric vehicles versus most efficient fossil fuel vehicles (including hybrid-electric vehicles)
(Fuel economy as displayed in the Monroney label)
VehicleModel
year		EPA rated fuel economyNotes
CombinedCityHighway
Toyota Prius HEV202357 mpg57 mpg56 mpg(9)
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range AWD w/ 18-inch wheels2023(1)
Lucid Air Pure AWD w/ 19-inch wheels2023(1)
Tesla Model Y AWD2023(1)
Tesla Model 3[7] Standard Range[8] 2020(1)
Hyundai Ioniq Electric[9] 2017(1) (4)
BMW i3 (60 A·h)[10] 2014/15/16(1) (3) (4) (5)
Scion iQ EV[11] 2013(1)
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD[12] 2020(1)
Chevrolet Bolt EV[13] 2017
Chevrolet Spark EV[14] 2014/15/16(1)
BMW i3 (94 A·h)[15] 2017(1)
Honda Fit EV[16] 2013/14(1)
Fiat 500e[17] 2013/14/15(1)
Volkswagen e-Golf[18] 2015/16(1)
Nissan Leaf (24 kW-h)[19] 2013/14/15/16(1) (6)
Mitsubishi i[20] 2012/13/14/16(1)
Nissan Leaf (30 kW-h)2016(1)
Fiat 500e[21] 2016(1)
Smart electric drive[22] 2013/14/15/16(1) (7)
Kia Soul EV[23] 2015/16(1)
Ford Focus Electric[24] 2012/13/14/15/16(1)
Tesla Model S AWD - 70D2015/16(1)
Tesla Model S AWD - 85D[25] & 90D2015/16(1) (8)
Tesla Model S (60 kW·h)[26] 2014/15/16(1)
Tesla Model S AWD - P85D & P90D2015/16(1) (8)
Tesla Model X AWD – 90D[27] 2016(1)
Tesla Model X AWD – P90D2016(1)
Tesla Model S (85 kW·h)[28] 2012/13/14/15(1)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive[29] 2014/15/16(1)
Toyota RAV4 EV[30] 2012/13/14(1)
BYD e6[31] 2012/13/14/15/16(1)
Second gen Chevrolet Volt[32] [33]
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Electricity only		2016(1) (2) (9)
Volt, Gasoline only42 mpg43 mpg42 mpg
Toyota Prius Eco (4th gen)
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)
Gasoline-electric hybrid 		201656 mpg58 mpg53 mpg(2) (10)
Ford Fusion AWD A-S6 2.0L
Gasoline-powered
(Average new vehicle)		201625 mpg22 mpg31 mpg(2) (11)
Notes: All estimated fuel economy based on 15000miles annual driving, 45% highway and 55% city
(1) Conversion 1 gallon of gasoline=33.7 kW·h.
(2) The 2014 i3 REx is classified by EPA as a series plug-in hybrid, while for CARB is a range-extended battery-electric vehicle (BEVx). The i3 REx is the most fuel economic EPA-certified current year vehicle with a gasoline engine with a combined gasoline/electricity rating of 88 mpg-e, but its total range is limited to 150miles.
(3) The 2014/16 BMW i3 (60 A·h) ranked as the most fuel economic EPA-certified vehicle of all fuel types considered in all years until MY 2016. It was surpassed by the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric in November 2016.[34]
(4) The i3 REx has a combined fuel economy in all-electric mode of 117 mpg-e (29 kW·h/100 mi; 1170NaN0).[35]
(5) The 2016 model year Leaf correspond to the variant with the 24 kW·h battery pack.
(6) Ratings correspond to both convertible and coupe models.
(7) Model with 85 kW·h battery pack
(8) Most fuel economic plug-in hybrid capable of long distance travel. The 2016 Volt has a rating of 77 mpg-e for combined gasoline/electricity operation.
(9) Most fuel economic hybrid electric car.
(10) Other 2016 MY cars achieving 25mpgus combined city/hwy include the Honda Accord A-S6 3.5L, Toyota Camry A-S6 3.5L and Toyota RAV4 A-S6 2.5L.[36]

ADAC also carried out consumption measurements.[37]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Fuel Economy Guide, Model Year 2023 . United States Department of Energy, EPA . 2023 . 11.
  2. Web site: Fueleconomy.gov's Top Fuel Sippers (EPA Ratings, All Years). fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06. Excludes all-electric vehicles. Click on the tab "Top Fuel Sippers (EPA Ratings, All Years)" - The 2016 Volt has a combined fuel economy of 77 mpg-e. The BMW i3 REx has a combined fuel economy of 88 mpg-e, and ranks as the most efficient EPA-certified current year vehicle with a gasoline engine.
  3. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side - 2015 Toyota Prius, 2016 Toyota Prius and 2016 Toyota Prius Eco. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-18. 2015-12-18. The average 2016 vehicle gets 25 mpg.
  4. Web site: 2016 Best and Worst Fuel Economy Vehicles - (excluding electric vehicles). Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-08-14. 2015-08-17. See the tab "Cars excl. EVs" – The Prius c is the most fuel efficient in the compact class and the conventional Prius is the most fuel efficient in the midsize class, and both rank ahead of the most fuel efficient in any other clars.
  5. See pp. 27–28 for all-electric vehicles and pp. 30–31 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The average 2016 vehicle gets 25 mpg
  6. Web site: How Vehicles Are Tested . www.fueleconomy.gov . United States Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.
  7. Web site: 2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus. 2020-12-05. www.fueleconomy.gov.
  8. Web site: 2020 Model 3 SR+. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2020-05-10. 2020-05-10.
  9. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side: 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric . fueleconomy.gov . . 2016-11-18 . 2016-11-19.
  10. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side: 2014 BMW i3 BEV. fueleconomy.gov . United States Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04 . 2015-12-06.
  11. Web site: 2013 Scion iQ EV. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04 . 2015-12-06.
  12. Web site: 2020 Model 3 LR AWD. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2020-05-10. 2020-05-10.
  13. Web site: Compare Side-by-Syde - 2017 Chevrolet Bolt . fueleconomy.gov . Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and . 2016-09-20 . 2016-09-20.
  14. Web site: 2014 Chvevrolet Spark EV. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04 . 2015-12-06.
  15. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side: 2015 BMW i3 REX, 2016 BMW i3 REX, 2017 BMW i3 REX (94 Amp-hour battery), and 2017 BMW i3 BEV (94 Amp-hour battery). fueleconomy.gov . . 2016-09-29 . 2016-09-30.
  16. Web site: 2013 Honda Fit EV. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  17. Web site: 2013 Fiat 500e. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  18. Web site: 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf. Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  19. Web site: Compare side by side: 2013 Nissan Leaf/2014 Nissan Leaf/2015 Nissan Leaf/2016 Nissan Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack)/2016 Nissan Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack). Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  20. Web site: 2011–12 Electric Vehicles- 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  21. Web site: 2016 Fiat 500e. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  22. Web site: 2013 smart fortwo electric drive coupe. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  23. Web site: 2015 Kia Soul Electric. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  24. Web site: 2012 Ford Focus BEV. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  25. Web site: 2015 Tesla Model S (85 kW-hr battery pack); 2014 Tesla Model S AWD (85 kW-hr battery pack); 2015 Tesla Model S AWD - 85D; and 2015 Tesla Model S AWD - P85D. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  26. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side - 2015 Tesla Model S 60 kW-hr/AWD - 70D/AWD - 90D/AWD - P90D. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  27. Web site: 2016 Tesla Model X AWD - 90D and P90D. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  28. Web site: 2012 Tesla Model S. Fueleconomy.gov. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  29. Web site: 2014/2015/2016 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive. Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  30. Web site: 2012/2013/2014 Toyota RAV4 EV. Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  31. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side: 2012/13/14/15 BYD e6. Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  32. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side - 2016/2015 Chevrolet Volt. Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  33. Web site: Detailed Look At 2016 Chevrolet Volt EPA Ratings. Eric Loveday. InsideEVs.com. 2015-09-01. 2015-09-02.
  34. Web site: Most Efficient EPA Certified Vehicles. fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2016-11-18 . 2016-11-19. Current Model Year excludes all-electric vehicles.
  35. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side: 2014 BMW i3 BEV & 2014 BMW i3 REx. fueleconomy.gov . United States Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2014-07-04 . 2014-07-26.
  36. Web site: Compare Side-by-Side: 2016 Ford Fusion AWD, 2016 Honda Accord, 2016 Toyota Camry, and 2016 Toyota RAV4 AWD. fueleconomy.gov . United States Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. 2015-12-04. 2015-12-06.
  37. (de) Electricity consumption - electric cars

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