What Is MPGe? How Electric Car Efficiency Is Measured
- Use MPGe for cross-fuel comparisons (EV vs gas, EV vs CNG).
- Use kWh per 100 miles for direct electricity use (and cost planning).
- Always personalize cost using your electricity rate and local gas prices.
What MPGe Means
MPGe is a consumer-friendly way to say, “How far can this vehicle go on the same amount of energy as a gallon of gasoline?” That is why it shows up on labels for vehicles that are not measured in gallons, such as electric vehicles.
If you are already comfortable with gas-car metrics like gallons per 100 miles (fuel consumption rate), think of MPGe as the EV version of that idea: a standardized way to translate energy use into a comparable metric.
What We Know (Sourced)
EPA explains that MPG equivalent (MPGe) is used for plug-in electric vehicles and that it conveys energy consumption in terms of how many miles a vehicle could go on an amount of fuel with the equivalent energy content as a gallon of gasoline. Source: U.S. EPA — Fuel Economy and EV Range Testing.
EPA’s testing page also provides the standard energy equivalence used for MPGe examples: a gallon of gasoline has an energy equivalent of 33.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Source: U.S. EPA — Fuel Economy and EV Range Testing.
EPA’s gasoline label documentation notes that vehicles that do not use liquid fuels (including electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids operating on electricity) display MPGe so consumers can compare different fuels. Source: U.S. EPA — Text version of the gasoline label.
Important nuance: EPA notes that MPGe values include charging losses and are designed to represent energy use “from the outlet,” not just what reaches the battery. Source: U.S. EPA — Fuel Economy and EV Range Testing.
MPGe vs kWh/100 Miles
MPGe is useful when you want one number that looks like MPG. But for EV ownership, kWh per 100 miles is often the most direct planning metric because it is tied to your electric bill.
EPA’s electric vehicle label documentation explains that kilowatt-hours per 100 miles tells you how many kilowatt-hours a vehicle would use to travel 100 miles, and it notes that this value relates directly to electricity used and thus to cost. Source: U.S. EPA — Text version of the electric vehicle label.
How to Use MPGe When Comparing Cars
- Start with official label data: use the EPA label and FuelEconomy.gov for standardized comparisons. (See: How to use FuelEconomy.gov.)
- Compare apples to apples: don’t compare an EV’s MPGe to a gas car’s “best case” highway MPG if your driving is mostly stop-and-go.
- Translate to dollars: pair efficiency with your energy prices. Related guides: EV charging cost per mile and gas vs electric cost per mile.
Comparing gas and electric costs?
Use our calculator to compare annual energy costs with your own miles and prices.
Try the Gas vs Electric CalculatorWhat’s Next
If you are shopping for an EV, your next best step is to pair efficiency with your actual charging setup:
- Look up the vehicle’s label metrics (MPGe, kWh/100 miles, range).
- Use your local electricity rate and your typical charging location (home vs public) to estimate cost.
- For mixed driving, treat official numbers as a baseline and track your real usage after purchase.
If you want a “hub” overview of EV efficiency metrics, see: EV efficiency metrics.
Why It Matters
MPGe exists because consumers need a standardized way to compare efficiency across fuels. EPA’s label materials and testing documentation explicitly frame MPGe as an energy-equivalence measure, and they also clarify that the official value accounts for charging losses. Sources: EPA testing and EPA gasoline label text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is higher MPGe always cheaper to drive?
Not necessarily. MPGe is about energy efficiency. Your actual cost depends on electricity rates, charging losses, and where you charge. That’s why pairing MPGe with kWh/100 miles and your electricity rate is important.
Does MPGe include charging losses?
EPA’s testing documentation notes that MPGe values include charging losses and are intended to represent energy use from the outlet. Source: U.S. EPA — Fuel Economy and EV Range Testing.
Where do I find MPGe for a vehicle?
You can find MPGe on the EPA fuel economy label and on FuelEconomy.gov. Sources: EPA label overview and FuelEconomy.gov.