One of the parameters used to compare gasoline-fueled vehicles is miles per gallon, also known as mpg. After all, the ability to save a few bucks at the pump is high on the list for most car shoppers. But what about hybrid vehicles that rely less on gas or electric vehicles that don’t use any gas at all? Is there an equivalent measure used to compare efficiency?
The answer is MPGe.
MPGe Defined
MPGe is an abbreviation for “miles per gallon-equivalent.” In other words, it’s the electric vehicle version of mpg. MPGe was introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2010 as a means to compare the amount of energy consumed by vehicles using alternative fuels to those of gas-powered engines.
Any vehicle that is powered by electricity or compressed natural gas will be rated for efficiency in MPGe.
Calculating MPGe
Burning gasoline generates heat. Using electricity also generates heat. So MPGe is essentially the heat equivalent of mpg.
One gallon of burned gas produces 115,000 British thermal units (BTUs). Generating the same amount of heat through electricity would require 33.7kWh, the standard unit used to measure electricity.
MPGe is the distance a car can travel on 33.7kWh of electricity. So, if a vehicle can cover 60 miles for every 33.7kWh of electricity, its MPGe would be 60. That would be the equivalent of a gas-powered car getting 60 mpg.
Another Way to Measure Efficiency
When shopping for a hybrid or electric vehicle, you might also see efficiency displayed the other way around: kWh per 100 miles.
This measurement tells you how much electricity the car requires to travel 100 miles. The car in the example above with the MPGe of 60 would have a kWh per 100 miles rating of 56. That means the car would require 1.78kWh to travel one mile, or 56kWh of electricity to travel 100 miles.
When comparing MPGe, a higher number is better (more efficient). But when comparing ranges, the lower number is the more efficient range.
Test Drive a Hybrid or EV in Madison, WI
You’ll find a large selection of new and pre-owned hybrid and electric vehicles for sale at Zimbrick Automotive in Madison, Wisconsin. Come test drive one of the energy-saving cars today and speak to our friendly sales associates to learn more about MPGe.
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