Energy Consumption
Energy consumption describes how much electrical energy an EV uses to travel a stated distance. It is commonly expressed as kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometres (kWh/100 km) or per 100 miles.
How to read it
A lower consumption figure means the vehicle needs less battery energy for the same distance under the stated conditions. The value must still be read with its measurement boundary: a vehicle or trip-computer figure may describe energy drawn from the battery, while a regulatory label or charging measurement may include some charging losses.
Test-cycle figures support comparison under a defined procedure. Real consumption changes with speed, temperature, wind, elevation, payload, tires, road conditions, cabin heating or cooling, and driving behavior. One trip is therefore not a fixed efficiency rating.
Consumption and usable battery energy can provide a rough range estimate, but both the test basis and actual conditions matter. See Understanding EV Range for the complete relationship between efficiency, conditions, and range, and Kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the energy unit.