How Is MPGe Calculated?

If you are considering making the switch from a gas vehicle to an electric one, then there is probably lots of information that you need to know.

Electric vehicles are very different from gas vehicles, and because of this, a lot of the jargon that comes with them is what you need to know before you invest. One key piece of information is MPGe.

In gas and diesel vehicles, the distance that a car can travel on a tank of fuel is measured in miles per gallon. You might expect the same term to cross over into electric vehicles, but it doesn’t. Instead, in electric vehicles, the term used is MPGe.

But what does this mean? And how is it calculated? In this quick and easy guide, we’ll be telling you absolutely everything that you need to know about MPGe in electric vehicles. 

What is Mpge?

First things first, let’s take a look at exactly what MPGe is.

MPGe stands for miles per gallon gasoline equivalent, and it is used to measure the fuel efficiency of vehicles that run on fuel that isn’t a liquid consistency.

So, if you buy an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, you will not use MPG to measure fuel efficiency. Instead, you will use MPGe.

The Hyundai Ioniq’s different efficiency calculations are a great example showing this difference in a practical example.

The MPGe measurement is a fairly recent development and was first introduced as a metric in 2010 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Around this time, electric and hybrid vehicles were becoming seen as viable alternatives to gas vehicles, and since then, their popularity has only grown. 

In technical terms, MPGe is very similar to MPG but is not a direct equivalent. So, 60 MPG in a gas vehicle will differ from 60 MPGe in an electric vehicle.

You cannot directly compare operating costs and efficiency between electric and gas vehicles. But, this metric’s introduction gives a better comparison than before. 

The main reason you cannot directly compare electric and gas vehicles in terms of efficiency is the cost difference between these fuel sources. So, let’s take a look at the difference between MPGe and MPG. 

How Is MPGee Calculated?

The EPA created the calculations to work out MPGe when they first introduced MPGe as a metric for electric/hybrid vehicles.

The calculation of MPGe is a very precise process, as it involves working out exactly how much electricity is the equivalent of one gallon of gas/diesel. The EPA calculates this, so it does make working out your own MPGe a little easier. 

Then, the exact consumption per distance for that vehicle must be calculated. This, combined with the exact equivalent of electricity per gallon, allows you to calculate your MPGe. Calculating MPGe is slightly different for hybrid and electric vehicles.

This is because the EPA will give them different MPGe ratings. The MPGe ratings for a vehicle will be displayed as a number on the front window of your vehicle (where MPG ratings would originally be). So, using this, you can calculate precise MPGe. 

To calculate your own precise MPGe, you will need some key pieces of information. These are:

1️⃣ Miles traveled
2️⃣ KW/H used
3️⃣ Cost of energy per KW/H
4️⃣ Cents per liter for electricity

With these pieces of information, you can then calculate your precise MPGe. The best way to do this is to use an online calculator, where you can simply input all of this information, and the calculations will be done for you. 

How Is MPGe Calculated For Hybrids?

We mentioned earlier that the process of calculating MPGe is slightly different for hybrid vehicles than for vehicles that solely run on electricity.

This is because hybrids run on a combination of electricity and fossil fuels, so their MPGe will differ from electric vehicles. 

That being said, to calculate the MPGe of your hybrid vehicle, you need the exact same information that we mentioned earlier. You can then use an online calculator to work out your vehicle’s MPGe.

The main difference is that you must remember that the additional fuel used in your vehicle will impact its efficiency. So, you will end up with a combined MPGe rating rather than the singular one you would get with an electric vehicle. 

Is MPGe The Same As MPG?

No, as you probably expect, MPGe is not the same as MPG. These metrics are both used to measure similar things, but they are not the same.

MPGe stands for miles per gallon gasoline equivalent, whereas MPG stands for miles per gallon, which is just one clear difference between the two. 

Of these two metrics, miles per gallon is the traditional term used. For a long time, gas and diesel vehicles were the only styles of vehicle available, and so miles per gallon was the term used.

But, when hybrid and electric vehicles entered the market, it became impossible to use the same term simply because of the key differences between these two fuel types. 

The key difference between the fuel used in gas and diesel vehicles, and the fuel used in hybrid and electric vehicles, is the consistency of it. Gas and diesel are liquid fuels, whereas electric and hybrid are not.

So, different processes will occur when these fuels are used to drive a car. This is why a different term had to be created. 

So, no, MPGe is not the same as MPG. These terms are similar but not the same.

Final Words

In short, MPGe is calculated by the EPA. This information gives every electric and hybrid vehicle an MPGe rating. This and various other information can be used to calculate your vehicle’s specific MPGe. These are:

1️⃣ Miles traveled
2️⃣ KW/H used
3️⃣ Cost of energy per KW/H
4️⃣ Cents per liter for electricity

The end figure will be slightly different for hybrid vehicles as they will have a combined MPGe rating when their other fuel source is taken into account.

The best way to calculate MPGe is to use an online calculator, so once you have all the information you need, head to one of these to work out your car’s MPGe.