When it comes to electric cars, range is one thing, efficiency quite another. The first simply indicates the ability of a model to travel a certain number of kilometers on a single charge, the other the amount of energy used to travel them.
The two concepts are clearly linked, because efficiency directly affects range. But she's not alone. A car can consume a lot (and therefore be less efficient), but have a gigantic battery, in order to offer a great range. But a larger battery is, among other things, heavier, more expensive, and more expensive to recharge.
How many kWh per 100 km?
In the end, talking about efficiency for electric or thermal cars is the same thing. In both cases we are talking about higher or lower distances traveled or, seen on the contrary, lower or higher consumption.
In the world of petrol or diesel we talk about "how many km per litre" or "how many liters per 100 km"; among zero-emission cars, on the other hand, we refer to how many km per kWh or how many kWh per 100 km. The difference is all there.
That said: which are the most efficient electric cars? Which ones consume less? As for the ranking regarding autonomy, we relied on the data declared according to the WLTP standard, therefore according to an average calculated on mixed routes according to the legislation in force in Europe. So here are the 10 most efficient zero-emission models, specifying that the Peugeot e-208 in its latest evolution and the Ioniq 6 will both arrive shortly.
(ranking constantly updated)
- Dacia Spring Electric - 12 kWh/100 km
- Peugeot e-208 (2023) - 12 kWh/100 km
- BMW i3 120 Ah 37,9 kWh - 13,1 kWh/100 km
- Fiat 500e Action - 13,1 kWh/100 km
- Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus - 13,3 kWh/100 km
- Renault Zoe ZE40 R110 - 13,7 kWh/100 km
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2023) - 13,9 kWh/km
- Hyundai Ioniq EV 38.8 kWh - 14,1 kWh/100 km
- Hyundai Kona Electric 39 kWh - 14,3 kWh/100 km
- Citroen e-C4 - 14,3 kWh/100 km
01) Dacia Spring - 12 kWh/100 km
It has the reputation of being the least expensive electric vehicle on the market: a "mini-SUV" clearly of urban extraction, the Dacia Spring also has efficiency among its peculiarities. The battery is 27,4 kWh, while the engine is capable of delivering 44 HP.
- Battery: 27,4 kWh
- Power: 32,3 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 6,6 | 30 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 12 kWh / 100 km
02) Peugeot e-208 - 12 kWh/100 km
Born on the e-CMP platform, the small car from the Casa del Leone paved the way for the electrification of the group, which then saw the arrival of the Opel Corsa-e (essentially twin car) and a series of equally zero-cost SUVs emissions. Compared to the version that debuted in 2019, which had fuel consumption of 14,7 kWh/100 km, it was improved in 2021, reaching 13,2 kWh/100 km and is now preparing for a second series of improvements that will lead it to tied with the first in the class.
- Battery: 51 kWh
- Power: 100 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 100 kW
- Consumption planet WLTP: 12 kWh / 100 km
03) BMW i3 - 13,1 kWh/100 km
A city supercar for technical and dynamic characteristics: this is how the BMW i3 was defined at its official launch. The restyling also brought - among other things - a more performing S version. In reality, the project has shown, among its strengths, also that of an efficiency that is among the best in its class.
- Battery: 37,9 kWh
- Power: 125 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 50 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 13,1 kWh / 100 km
04) Fiat 500e - 13,1 kWh/100 km
Great little classic from the Belpaese, revised and revolutionized in an electric key. The 500e, right from its debut, has effectively represented a watershed for this evolutionary phase of zero emissions. The union of its strengths - style, elegance and compact dimensions - with current technology has led the 500e to be the best-selling electric car in Spain in the first quarter of 2021. The version Action, with a smaller battery and less power, takes third place. The others have slightly higher consumption, around 13,9 kWh/100 km.
- Battery: 23,8 kWh
- Power: 70 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 85 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 13,1 kWh / 100 km
05) Tesla Model 3 - 13,3 kWh/100 km
If we talk about watersheds, we can't help but mention the Tesla Model 3. The American sedan (the best-selling electric car in the world) has really cleared electric customs in the Old Continent. On their side, Elon Musk's cars have always had management software and an aerodynamic study such that efficiency remains among the best in the class. In this case 13,3 kWh/100 km for the Standard Range Plus version.
- Battery: 50 kWh
- Power: 225 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 250 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 13,3 kWh
06) Renault Zoe - 13,7 kWh/100 km
If we talk about queens on the market, we cannot help but mention the best-selling zero-emission car in Europe in 2020, the Renault Zoe. The Losanga hatchback has evolved considerably since its inception. Today, with the second generation, it reaches 52 kWh of battery pack capacity, and a declared efficiency of 13,7 kWh/100km.
- Battery: 52 kWh
- Power: 41 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 22 | - kW
- WLTP average consumption: 13,7 kWh
07) Ioniq 6 - 13,9 kWh/100 km
The new South Korean sedan was made with great attention to efficiency. In terms of consumption, it boasts an almost record-breaking value for the category (second only to the Tesla Model 3) of 13,9 kWh/100 km which was obtained thanks to painstaking work on the shapes of the car, which has a Cx of only 0,21 ,6. The Ioniq 5 has achieved this result also thanks to the platform adopted, the same as the Ioniq 6 and the Kia EV800, the E-GMP one which has an 350 Volt architecture, a charging power of XNUMX kW and also the possibility of powering external electronic devices thanks to Vehicle-to-Load.
- Battery: 77,4 kWh
- Power: 168 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 350 kW
- Consumption planet WLTP: 12,6 kWh / 100 km
08) Hyundai Ioniq EV - 14,1 kWh/100 km
It is the most transversal model from Hyundai. The Ioniq electric, after the restyling, had brought the 38,3 kWh battery to its debut, allowing it to reach a declared range of 311 km. This version is capable of consuming 14,1 kWh/100 km.
- Battery: 38,3 kWh
- Power: 100 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 7,4 | 69 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 14,1 kWh / 100 km
09) Hyundai Kona Electric - 14,3 kWh/100 km
- Battery: 39 kWh
- Power: 100 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 100 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 14,3 kWh / 100 km
10) Citroen E-C4 - 14,3 kWh/100 km
Daughter of the Stellantis group's e-CMP platform, the Citroen e-C4 offers a 50 kWh battery pack with an engine capable of delivering 100 kW. The declared average consumption, according to WLTP standards, is equal to 14,3 kWh/100 km.
- Battery: 50 kWh
- Power: 100 kW
- Carica AC | DC: 11 | 100 kW
- WLTP average consumption: 14,3 kWh / 100 km
Our test with the "small" ones
About electric cars and efficiency
