By EV Charge Cost Editorial Team. Published September 28, 2026, updated October 26, 2026.
kWh/100 mi and MPGe
MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) treats 33.7 kWh as the energy in one gallon of gasoline. The conversion is MPGe = 3,370 ÷ kWh per 100 miles. A 33.5 kWh/100 mi EV is rated about 101 MPGe.
Why kWh/100 mi is the better number for costs
Your electricity bill is in kWh, so kWh/100 mi converts straight into dollars: multiply by your price. MPGe needs an extra conversion step and hides how small efficiency differences add up.
Where to find it
The EPA label on every new EV shows kWh/100 mi. We list it for every current model on the vehicle pages, taken from the fueleconomy.gov dataset.
Why your real number can differ
- Cold weather and cabin heating raise consumption.
- Sustained highway speeds use more energy than the EPA combined cycle.
- Larger wheels and roof loads increase drag and rolling resistance.
From kWh/100 mi to dollars
Multiply kWh per 100 miles by your price per kWh and you have the cost per 100 miles. The table converts a range of efficiencies at the U.S. average price of 18.16¢/kWh.
| kWh/100 mi | MPGe | Miles per kWh | Per 100 miles | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 135 | 4.00 | $4.54 | $612.90 |
| 28 | 120 | 3.57 | $5.08 | $686.45 |
| 30 | 112 | 3.33 | $5.45 | $735.48 |
| 33 | 102 | 3.03 | $5.99 | $809.03 |
| 36 | 94 | 2.78 | $6.54 | $882.58 |
| 40 | 84 | 2.50 | $7.26 | $980.64 |
| 45 | 75 | 2.22 | $8.17 | $1,103.22 |
| 50 | 67 | 2.00 | $9.08 | $1,225.80 |
Efficiency across today's EVs
In the current EPA data, representative trims range from 26.4 to 70.3 kWh per 100 miles. The typical EV used on this site, 33.5 kWh/100 mi, is the median of 26 popular models. Small sedans sit at the efficient end; large pickups and SUVs at the other. See the cheapest EVs to charge for the full ranking.
Comparing two cars
To compare two EVs, subtract their kWh/100 mi and multiply by your price and yearly miles ÷ 100. For example, a difference of 10 kWh/100 mi at 18.16¢/kWh and 13,500 miles a year is $245.16 a year. Related: MPGe explained and converting kWh per mile and miles per kWh.
Your own real-world figure
You can measure your car's real consumption from the wall: note the kWh your charger or smart meter reports over a few weeks and divide by the miles driven in the same period, then multiply by 100. That number includes charging losses, so it is directly comparable to the EPA rating.
- Trip computers in many cars report energy taken from the battery, not from the wall. Expect the wall figure to be somewhat higher.
- Short trips in winter push consumption up because heating the cabin and battery costs energy before the car has gone far.
- Steady highway driving above about 65 mph usually uses more than the EPA combined figure; see highway speed and efficiency.
Once you have your own number, enter it in the charging cost calculator by choosing a similar vehicle and adjusting, or use the API with the kwh parameter.