Understanding Vehicle Fuel Consumption (Gas, EV, & CNG)

With shifting economics and a growing concern for the environment, the ability to efficiently manage the energy needs of a vehicle is no longer a niche interest. Drivers of every type of vehicle – gas-powered, modern electric (EV), or economical CNG – stand to save the most money, mitigate their carbon footprint, and keep their vehicle in good working order. This guide, along with a universal calculator, will help you achieve your maximum energy efficiency.

Part 1: Fuel Consumption 101 (ICE)

The term fuel economy has been a staple in the motor vehicle lexicon for decades. It is a measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, or how far a vehicle can travel for a given amount of fuel. Learning the jargon kills the first of many birds in Constructive Communication.

Understanding the Basics (Gas and Diesel)

The industry standard for fuel consumption is Litters per 100 kilometres (L/100km). This Canadian and European standard expresses fuel consumption in litres of fuel required to drive 100 kilometres. The measure is inverse, with higher numbers meaning less efficiency in fuel consumption. Therefore, a 7 L/100km vehicle is more efficient than a 10 L/100km vehicle.

Miles Per Gallon (MPG): This is the way the US and the UK measure the number of miles a vehicle can go using one gallon of fuel. Higher numbers are better. A vehicle that can go 40 MPG is better than a vehicle that can go 25 MPG.

The Dashboard on Your Car is Always Overly Optimistic: Your Gold Standard for Accuracy

To get a better measure of your vehicle’s fuel economy, use the fill-up method.

Go to the gas station and fill your fuel tank to the top.

On the dashboard, reset your trip meter (A or B) to zero.

Use your car on a normal basis until your tank is at least half empty.

Go back to the gas station and fill your tank.

Look at your trip meter and write down the distance.

Look at your receipt and write down the amount.

.Now that these numbers have been collected, let’s get precise fuel economy using your calculator.

Part 2: Electric Vehicles (EV): The New Frontier

EVs do not use fuel, so the way to measure their efficiency is different. Instead of litres or gallons, the fuel is measured in electricity, kilowatt hours (kWh).

Key EV Metrics Explained

Kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometres (kWh/100km): This is the most direct equivalent to L/100km. How many kilometres can be travelled? In addition to the L/100km, lower values are better. Typical EVs might achieve 15-20 kWh/100km.

Miles Per Gallon equivalent (MPGe): An EPA-created metric to help consumers compare EVs to gasoline cars. MPGe is based on the fact that one gallon of gasoline is equivalent to 33.7 kWh of energy. While useful for a rough comparison, kWh/100km is far better for practical purposes.

Part 3: The Alternative – Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

In many parts of the world, CNG has become a popular, cheap alternative to petrol and diesel. CNG is essentially methane stored at high pressure.

Key CNG Metrics Explained

Kilograms per 100 kilometres (kg/100km): This is the standard metric for CNG vehicles. Because CNG is a gas, it is dispensed and measured by mass (kilograms) rather than volume (litres. Thus, it shows how many kilograms of CNG are needed to travel 100 kilometres. A lower number is better, just like L/100km and kWh/100km. A typical CNG sedan might consume 4-6 kg/100km.

The Advantages and Drawbacks of Using CNG for Vehicles

Advantages: CNG is typically much less expensive than gasoline. Additionally, CNG is much cleaner and has fewer contaminants from harmful greenhouse gases into the air than gasoline, and produces 25% less CO2 than gasoline when burned.

Disadvantages: Less energy than gasoline, so less distance you can travel per full tank of CNG. CNG fills high-pressure tanks, which can take quite a bit of trunk space. Not easily available for refuelling due to no existing infrastructure.

Part 4: Using the All-in-One Calculator

Below is a simple explanation of how to use the tool:

Step 1. Pick Your Vehicle Type (Fuel or EV)

Start by clicking the toggle for ‘Fuel Vehicle’ or ‘Electric Vehicle’; this changes the main calculator for your use. If you drive CNG, you should select ‘Fuel Vehicle’.

Step 2. Figure Out Your Vehicle’s Economy

In the first column, you get two options:

– Using the “Fill-Up” method, for gas/diesel/CNG, or for an EV, use a recent trip’s data to calculate your real, accurate economy for a Manual Calculation. If you use CNG, please enter the kilograms of fuel used.

– Select Average Vehicle: For quicker estimates, select a vehicle type from our list provided, which includes CNG model vehicles, to get a typical economy figure.

Step 3: Trip Calculation

In the second column, enter the specifics of your trip. If using the fuel vehicle calculator, you can choose your fuel type: Petrol, Diesel, or CNG. The calculator will change the labels to make the price more specific (e.g., for CNG it will say “per kg”) and will use the appropriate CO2 emissions factors.

Step 4: Check The Estimation

The third column calculates the trip estimation in real-time. It tells you the total fuel/energy required, total trip cost, and the total greenhouse emissions for the entire trip, using the correct metric for your selected vehicle type.

Bonus: The Ultimate Gas v. EV v. CNG Comparison

This amazing tool found at the bottom of the page allows for apples-to-apples-to-oranges comparisons for a trip for the three types of vehicles in four areas:

Cost: The total trip cost in a side-by-side comparison.

Time: The total time added to the trip by dash refuelling or recharging the vehicle.

CO2: A comparison of the total greenhouse gas emissions for the trip, taking into account the coal intensity of the regional grid for EVs.

Winner Declaration: You get a description at the end of the comparison for the three vehicles, stating which is the cheapest for the trip you have planned.

Part 5: Tips for Better Efficiency

The goal of these strategies is improvement, while having data is merely for the sake of calculation. These strategies can be used for all vehicle types:

Changes to Driving Style (The Biggest Impact)

Drive Smoothly: Reducing aggressive driving by harassing the eggs needs to be put on top of the gas counteracts attacking the eggs, which may counteract the efficiency killer. It can decrease efficiency by 15-30%. Pretend there’s an egg under your accelerator pedal. Anticipate stops and coast.

Obey Speed Limits: driving on a highway versus driving on a highway 120 versus 100 plummets EV efficiency. Up to 20% more energy can be used on a trip, with 20% higher energy, which can be used. ed

Vehicle Maintenance is Non-Negotiable

Proper Tire Inflation: This is the easiest fiUnder-inflatingted improves the efficiency by about 3-5%

Regular Service: A well-maintained vehicle runs more efficiently, having regular oil changes, replacing filtered air for CNG/ICE

Reduce Weight and Aerodynamic Drag

Remove Unnecessary Weight: Every extra 50 kg (110 lbs) can decrease the efficiency by 1-2%

Ditch the Roof Rack: massive wind resistance decreases the efficiency by 5-25% highways speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is the economy of my vehicle different from the standard rating of the vehicle?

Vehicle standard ratings are obtained from the manufacturer and are done under optimal laboratory conditions. However, actual road conditions are different and include aspects such as traffic, road hill gradients, wind, and weather temperature fluctuations, which are then combined with each driver’s unique driving style, all affecting driving efficiency.

What is the grid carbon intensity?

This is the measured amount of CO2 (carbon ) emitted to generate one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity with respect to one particular location. For instance, a region with a coal-powered grid will have a high level of carbon emissions in the electricity generated, compared to a region with renewable energy, which will have a lower level. This also helps in the more accurate comparison of the so-called “well-to-wheel” emissions of an EV.

What is the best option – Petrol, Diesel, or CNG?

This depends on the individual’s priorities. For instance, Diesel is the most fuel-efficient, but tends to have more emissions of local pollutants. CNG, on the other hand, is often regarded as a cost-effective fuel and is much cleaner compared to Petrol. However, it tends to have a more restricted range and lower availability. Petrol provides a more even distribution of performance, but has lower availability compared to other fuels. The comparison tool is designed to assist you in determining the particular priorities that are more relevant to you.

Conclusion:

Take Control of Your Driving Costs

Fuel consumption calculators are not just tools for mathematics. They can help customers diagnose their driving behaviours and plan their budgets. By monitoring a vehicle’s performance and tracking fuel consumption over time, customers can take control of one of their biggest expenses.

Start driving smarter today!