Average Electric Car kWh Per Mile [Results From 231 EVs]

Last updated: February 1, 2024.

Find the average electric car kWh per 100 miles, along with the best and the worst. Plus see the costs, savings and how you can go greener.

---

When working out the average cost of charging an electric car at home, I had to find the average electric car kWh per mile. But I couldn’t find a specific answer to this online, that referenced reliable sources. So I had to do the research, and here it is:

The average electric car kWh per 100 miles (kWh/100 mi) is 34.6. This works out as 0.346kWh per mile. In other words, on average, electric cars consume 34.6kWh to travel 100 miles and 0.346kWh to travel 1 mile.

This is based on 231 electric cars, built between 2000 and 2022, and their kWh/100 mi as stated on fueleconomy.gov (the official US government source for fuel economy information).

The 2012 Nissan Leaf and 2008 MINI MiniE are examples of electric cars that are closest to the average kWh per mile, at 34 kWh/100 mi.

See the data: Electric Car kWh Per Mile List [277 kWh/Mile Listed]. Here, I listed the power consumption data used for this post, along with over 36 extra electric car models (note: even after adding the extra models, the average kWh per mile remained the same).

Cost to run an average electric car

The annual fuel cost to run an average electric car is $650, according to fueleconomy.gov.

This equates to $2,750 in savings over 5 years compared to an average modern gas fueled car.

Interestingly, fueleconomy.gov assumes an above average annual distance will be travelled – 15,000 miles. The average distance a US driver travels is 13,476 according to United States Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration.

Using the average distance, the cost to charge the average electric car for 1 year works out at $606.15.

Check out The Cost Of Charging An Electric Car At Home to get costs that takes into account the average travel distance. It also breaks down costs by charge, mile, month and year.

Electric car with the best kWh per mile

The electric car with the best kWh per mile is the 2020 Tesla Model 3, with 24 kWh/100 mi (or 0.24kWh per mile).

The annual fuel cost to run an electric car with the best kWh per mile is $450, according to fueleconomy.gov.

Compared to a standard modern gas fueled car, 2020 Tesla Model 3 owners may save $3,750 over 5 years in fuel costs. But again, this assumes an above average distanace travelled per year.

An honorable mention must go to Lucid Air. To see why, check out Lucid Air vs Tesla.

Related: see how the electricity cost per mile of an electric car compares to electric scooters.

Electric car with the worst kWh per mile

From researching the average electric car kWh per mile, the 2001 Ford Explorer USPS Electric, stood out as the least efficient electric car in terms of kWh per mile.

The annual fuel cost to run an electric car with the worst kWh per 100 miles is $1,700.

When compared to an average modern car, it actually costs more to run an electric car with such high kWh per mile consumption. According to fueleconomy.gov, it costs $2,500 more over 5 years.

The 2001 and 2002 Ford Explorer USPS Electric, are the only electric cars that I came across in my research that don’t save you money on fuel.

Related post: see how much electricity 277 electric cars consume per mile, visit Electric Car kWh Per Mile List [277 kWh/Mile Listed].

The authoritative source for electric car energy efficiency insights

These study results and our proprietary tools have garnered recognition and citations from esteemed entities such as:

• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Economic Perspectives, No. 5, December 2022), Pennsylvania Department of Transport (Electric Vehicle Resources > Is an Electric Car Right for You?), and City of Glendale California (Electrical Service Requirements Manual > Distributed Energy Resources) ;
• The Next Web (TNW), and Fast Company; and
• Various industry leaders including Power Sonic, State Farm, Atlantic Energy, ReVision Energy, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp, and Chargie.

The results on this page were also referenced in several institutional repositories including California State University, and Boston College, along with many scientific papers such as: “Assessment of Home Charging Station feeding electric vehicle using PV – Green Energy.” Publisher: IEEE. Authors: F. M. Enescu, M. S. Raboaca, N. Bizon and V. M. Ionescu.

Basically, you can trust our research, calculations, and unbiased analysis, just like so many others.

Final thoughts

If you’re buying an electric car, chances are you’re considering the environmental impact. But did you know that in the US, according to eia.gov, about 63% of electricity is generated from burning fossil fuels?

You could go one step further in minimizing your carbon footprint by using green power to charge your electric car. About 50% of US consumers have access to green power from their energy suppliers, so do enquire with your provider today. You can still expect to make significant savings in fuel costs when charging your electric car with green power.

Related: Electric Car Charge Times [Fastest Revealed].

Also, an alternative electric vehicle with a significantly lower carbon footprint might be of interest to you. At just 4.7% of the cost of running the most efficient electric car, get details about electric bike charging costs, here.

---