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Energy Consumption of Electric Vehicles in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Martin Weiss

    (Environmental Planning and Technology Department, Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld, University of Applied Sciences Trier, P.O. Box 1380, 55761 Birkenfeld, Germany)

  • Trey Winbush

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1610 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401, USA)

  • Alexandra Newman

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1610 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401, USA)

  • Eckard Helmers

    (Environmental Planning and Technology Department, Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld, University of Applied Sciences Trier, P.O. Box 1380, 55761 Birkenfeld, Germany)

Abstract

As the European Union advances its regulatory framework on energy efficiency, the introduction of an energy label for electric cars appears increasingly relevant. Anticipating this policy development, we present a scoping analysis of energy consumption and efficiency trade-offs across 342 fully electric cars available in Europe. Our results suggest that certified and real-world energy consumption average 19 ± 4 kWh/100 km and 21 ± 4 kWh/100 km, translating into drive ranges of 440 ± 120 km and 380 ± 110 km, respectively. Energy consumption is correlated with mass, frontal area, and battery capacity but less so with rated power and vehicle price. Each 100 kg of vehicle mass and 0.1 m 2 of frontal area increases energy consumption by 0.2 ± 0.1 kWh/100 km and 0.9 ± 0.1 kWh/100 km, respectively. Raising battery capacity by 10 kWh elevates vehicle mass by 143 ± 4 kg, energy consumption by 0.6 ± 0.1 kWh/100 km, drive range by 44 ± 2 km, and vehicle price by 12,000 ± 600 EUR. Efficient cars are available at any price, but long drive ranges have a cost. These findings point to considerable efficiency trade-offs that could be revealed to consumers through a dedicated energy label. We propose several options for classifying vehicles on an efficiency scale from A to G, with and without drive range and battery capacity as utility parameters. Our analysis provides a rationale for the energy labeling of electric cars in the European Union and could inspire similar analyses for other vehicle categories such as e-scooters, lightweight electric three- and four-wheelers, e-busses, e-trucks, and electric non-road machinery.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Weiss & Trey Winbush & Alexandra Newman & Eckard Helmers, 2024. "Energy Consumption of Electric Vehicles in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7529-:d:1467851
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Galvin, Ray, 2022. "Are electric vehicles getting too big and heavy? Modelling future vehicle journeying demand on a decarbonized US electricity grid," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    2. Tomáš Skrúcaný & Martin Kendra & Ondrej Stopka & Saša Milojević & Tomasz Figlus & Csaba Csiszár, 2019. "Impact of the Electric Mobility Implementation on the Greenhouse Gases Production in Central European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Maksymilian Mądziel & Tiziana Campisi, 2023. "Energy Consumption of Electric Vehicles: Analysis of Selected Parameters Based on Created Database," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Eckard Helmers, 2024. "Do’s and Don’ts in Climate Impact Assessment of University Campuses: Towards Responsible, Transparent and Comprehensive Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Badenhoop, Nikolai & Riedel, Max, 2024. "Reforming EU car labels: How to achieve consumer-friendly transparency?," SAFE Working Paper Series 433, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    3. Sónia Gouveia & Daniel H. de la Iglesia & José Luís Abrantes & Alfonso J. López Rivero & Elisabete Silva & Eduardo Gouveia & Vasco Santos, 2025. "Creating Value Through Strategic Management: Sustainable Mobility for Family-Owned Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises with Electric Vehicles in the Digital Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-29, February.
    4. Efe Savran & Esin Karpat & Fatih Karpat, 2024. "Sustainable Energy Management in Electric Vehicles Through a Fuzzy Logic-Based Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-17, December.

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