These Are the Most Efficient Electric Cars and Trucks Available Today – CNET
These Are the Most Efficient Electric Cars and Trucks Available Today - CNET
When shopping for or discussing electric cars, it’s easy to get hung up on range as the most important metric, but how far an EV can get you is only part of the picture. Much like the miles per gallon we’re already familiar with from gasoline cars, electric vehicle efficiency (measured in miles per kilowatt-hour) plays a huge role in how much it costs to drive an electric car, but also affects everything from vehicle design, sticker price and performance.
I’ve rounded up the five most energy-efficient electric vehicles on sale today, as estimated by the US EPA. Also highlighted are the most efficient electric pickups, which come with different performance and range requirements than the sedans and SUVs that make up the bulk of the list. And I’ve answered some frequently asked questions about EV efficiency and kilowatt-hours.
Most efficient electric cars and SUVs
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Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 is the newest model on this list, hitting dealerships earlier this year, but it also ties for the most efficient electric car you can buy today. The 6’s aerodynamic sedan body rides atop the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric vehicle platform — which also underpins SUVs like the Ioniq 5, Kia’s EV6 and EV9 and the Genesis GV60 — giving it the edge in range and efficiency over its extended EV family. In its thriftiest Long Range RWD configuration, the Ioniq 6 cruises up to 361 miles and covers 4.17 miles per kilowatt-hour. That’s an EPA-estimated equivalent of 140 mpge.
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I was able to take a spin in the 620-hp Air Touring. It’s very quick!
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In a tie for first place is the luxurious and long-ranging Lucid Air electric sedan, bolstered by the new Pure and Touring trim levels introduced earlier this year. Slightly lighter than the range-topping Grand Touring model thanks to their smaller battery pack and more modest interior trim, the 425-mile Touring and 410-mile Pure cruise for 4.17 miles per kWh, reaching an EPA-estimated 140 mpge.
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Tesla has entered the chat with the long-range, dual-motor version of its affordable electric sedan, the Model 3. This configuration is the most energy efficient spec in the American EV manufacturer’s lineup cruising for 4 miles per kWh and averaging about 132 EPA-estimated mpge over its 358-mile range. Like its more spacious sibling the Model Y, it also qualifies for up to $7,500 EV tax credit under the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, giving your operating cost savings a kickstart.
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The Model Y is the more spacious and heavier twin of the aforementioned Tesla Model 3. The increased mass and taller aerodynamic profile has the slightest impact on energy efficiency. The EPA reckons the electric SUV will glide along at 3.85 miles per kWh, which works out to around a 123 mpg equivalent.
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One of the most affordable electric cars at dealerships today, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a surprisingly efficient budget electric car. Stretching up to 258 miles per charge from its 64-kWh battery pack, the Kona EV covers up to 3.7 miles per kWh, returning the energy equivalent of 120 mpg. Its low entry and operating costs make it a thrifty choice for commuters, but we wouldn’t recommend frequent road trips due to its Achilles’ heel — relatively slow DC fast charging speeds.