MPGe vs MPG: What's the Difference?

MPGe: Miles Per Gallon equivalent

As you probably know already, MPG stands for "Miles Per Gallon," and it is a traditional measure of how far a car can travel per gallon of gasoline. It is commonly used to assess the fuel efficiency of cars with internal combustion engines.

MPGe, on the other hand, stands for "Miles Per Gallon equivalent." It is a measure introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to compare the energy consumption of alternative fuel vehicles (including electric vehicles) with the fuel economy of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Because electric vehicles don't consume fuel in the traditional sense, the measure of MPG wouldn't make sense for them. MPGe provides a way to compare the energy efficiency of a wide range of vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles.

Good MPGe ratings don't necessarily mean the best electric range. Instead, a high MPGe rating shows that a car makes the best use of its electrical power.

How Is MPGe Calculated?

The MPGe measurement is based on the energy content of gasoline. The EPA has determined that one gallon of gasoline is about equal to 33.7 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.

So, if an electric vehicle can travel 100 miles on 33.7 kWh of electricity, it would have an energy consumption of 100 MPGe. The higher the MPGe, the more energy efficient the vehicle is.

In summary, MPG and MPGe are both measures of vehicle efficiency, but MPG is used for vehicles that run on gasoline, while MPGe is used to compare the energy efficiency of different types of vehicles, including those that run on electricity.

Shop BMW EVs & Plug-in Hybrids at BMW of Towson

Discover a new world of efficiency and luxury with BMW Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) at BMW of Towson. You can shop our entire electrified inventory here on our website and filter by MPGe to find a vehicle that suites your needs. If you have any questions, give us a call at 855-617-0058 to speak with a knowledge team member. We look forward to assisting you!