Diving into the Electric Vehicles market, numerous buyers give prominence to the EPA-endorsed range. This metric plays a key role in evaluating how well an electric vehicle aligns with their driving habits, the charging resources around them, and the prevalent weather conditions. Yet, understanding an electric vehicle’s efficiency, which reflects the distance it can cover using the electricity it holds, is equally significant. This is reminiscent of comparing the fuel efficiency among conventional cars.

In this list, we’ve organized electric vehicles based on their combined city/highway energy consumption ratings for every 100 miles. With the 2024 vehicle line-up in sight and continuous battery innovations, we’re excited to see which electric vehicles might climb the rankings next year.

Top 10 in Energy Efficiency (Electricity Consumption Per 100 Miles):

• Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range RWD (18-inch wheels) – 24 kWh
• Lucid Air Pure AWD/Touring AWD (19-inch wheels) – 24 kWh
• Tesla Model 3 RWD – 25 kWh
• Hyundai Kona Electric – 27 kWh
• Chevrolet Bolt EV – 28 kWh
• Toyota bZ4X FWD – 28 kWh
• Tesla Model Y AWD/Long Range AWD – 28 kWh
• Kia EV6 Long Range RWD/Standard Range RWD – 28 kWh
• Tesla Model S – 28 kWh
• Chevrolet Bolt EUV & Kia Niro Electric – 29 kWh (tie)

For a comprehensive view, let’s delve into some select electric vehicles:

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range RWD (18-Inch Wheels)

Electricity Consumption: 24 kWh/100 miles Miles Per Gallon Equivalent: 140 mpg-e Driving Range: 361 miles Pricing: Starts at $46,615 (inclusive of $1,115 destination fee) The Ioniq 6 stands out for its efficiency, particularly its long-range RWD version. While variants offer additional features, they might trade off a bit on efficiency.

2023 Lucid Air Pure AWD/Touring AWD (19-Inch Wheels)

Electricity Consumption: 24 kWh/100 miles Miles Per Gallon Equivalent: 140 mpg-e Driving Range: Between 410 and 425 miles Pricing: Starting at $89,125 or $109,125 (including $1,650 destination fee) The luxurious Lucid Air boasts exceptional efficiency without compromising on luxury. A noteworthy mention is its Grand Touring variant with a range extending up to 516 miles.

2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD

Electricity Consumption: 25 kWh/100 miles Miles Per Gallon Equivalent: 132 mpg-e Driving Range: 272 miles Pricing: Begins at $41,880 (inclusive of $1,390 destination fee) This version of Tesla Model 3 strikes a balance between cost and efficiency. An additional $7,000 for the long-range AWD variant rewards you with an impressive 358-mile range.

(Only a subset of models are elaborated here.)

Decoding Electric Vehicle Efficiency

Much like how fuel efficiency gives insight into gasoline vehicle travel expenses, it mirrors for electric vehicles. Although electric vehicles tend to surpass gasoline cars in efficiency, home charging and expedited charging on highways have their costs. Opting for an efficient electric vehicle could mean a compact, lightweight battery that delivers the same range, translating to economical and quicker charging. A more efficient car generally implies faster charging to cover a given distance.

The efficiency spectrum is broad among electric vehicles. Take, for instance, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 using 24 kWh for 100 miles, contrasted against the Audi E-Tron S guzzling 53 kWh for identical mileage. Depending on personal needs, efficiency might take precedence over sheer driving range.

Why Kilowatt-Hours Per 100 Miles Matter?

This metric offers insights into an electric vehicle’s performance by pinpointing the electricity it consumes to cover a set distance. It’s analogous to the gasoline car’s gallons-per-100-miles measurement. While the commonly referenced mpg-e tries to equate electric consumption with traditional fuel, to get an accurate cost estimation considering local fuel or electricity prices, the kWh or gallons per 100 miles metric becomes invaluable.