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Right after the Chevrolet Bolt EV raised the bar to 238 miles of range when driving on battery power, Hyundai announced the Ioniq EV with simply 124 miles per accuse. Honda is about to announce EV, plug-in hybrid, and fuel jail cell versions of a new Honda Clarity. The Clarity EV may get just 80 miles per charge. What gives?

Hyundai says the more than important metric is MPGe, the measure of battery efficiency relative to gasoline power. Not surprisingly, Hyundai is the leader at 136 MPGe. Honda says some EV-intenders are turned off by dinky piffling EVs; the new Clarity is the same size as the Honda Accord.

EVs sorted by MPGe (orangish bars).

What is MPGe and why information technology matters

Chevrolet Bolt EV: 238 miles.

A gallon of gasoline contains 115,000 BTUs of heat. Gasoline fired off in the cylinders of cars creates heat that expands and forces the pistons down, creating the power that drives the auto forrard. According to the EPA, yous'd need 33.7 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to match the heat in a gallon of gas. A car that travels 100 miles on 33.7 kWh of battery ability would be rated at 100 MPGe. Among EVs available today, their efficiency ranges from  84 MPGe for the Mercedes-Benz B250e (a 173-inch, compact SUV) to 136 MPGe for the Ioniq EV, roughly the size of the Hyundai Elantra, and 124 MPGe for the subcompact BMW i3 EV.

An EV rated at 100 MPGe would use 33.7 kWh of electricity. At the end of 2016, residential customers in the US paid an average of 12.21 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the US Department of Energy'south Energy Data Assistants. So the price would be $4.xi per 100 miles. At the current $2.29 cost per gallon of gasoline, according to AAA, yous'd demand a combustion engine car returning 57 mpg. To lucifer the Ioniq, you'd need a gasoline car that gets 78 mpg. The Elantra averages 25-32 mpg, depending on trim line.

2017 Hyundai Ionic is the near battery-efficient EV at 136 MPGe.

Big, heavy batteries reduce efficiency

Why haul around a bombardment of 900-one,200 pounds in order to go 200 to 300 miles of range, asks Hyundai. The Bolt EV battery weighs about 900 pounds. Tesla batteries are upwards to about one,200 pounds. The Ioniq EV battery weighs less than 500 pounds.

Here is the argument of the automakers whose vehicles have ranges around 100 miles:

  • At that place is no range anxiety, as 95% to 98% of daily trips are all within the vehicle'due south range. It only takes 30 seconds to plug in the charger when you get home.
  • A 200- to 300-mile battery doubles or triples the battery weight. The Ioniq'southward three,164-pound curb weight would spring beyond iii,500 pounds. This for a meaty car, no less.
  • A bigger battery adds another $1,000 or more to the cost.
  • A bigger bombardment eats into passenger and cargo space.
  • It merely gets improve from here, with more public charging stations offering 220/240-volt charging (full bombardment charge in iv-5 hours) and DC Fast Charging (80% charge in a half-hour). Y'all can charge at the company parking lot, at home, on campus, and in an increasing number of parking lots and garages.

Americans want more than compact cars

So far, the majority of EVs have been compacts or subcompacts. Tesla is the lone exception, with full-size cars that cost more than $75,000. Now comes Honda, before long, with a medium-to-full-size sedan. But the Clarity EV is reported to get merely 80 miles per charge. On range, that's a throwback to 3-v years ago. Honda'southward points are:

  • In that location is no range anxiety (see above)
  • Americans crave roominess. They desire cars that seat 4-five comfortably. They're near to go one.

Steve Center, VP for environmental business organization evolution for Honda in the United states, told Automotive News, "These people want a battery machine and they know what they exercise and where they become. They're very rational and they don't need to lug around or charge up a 300-mile-range battery considering that costs them electricity."

Honda has feel selling small EVs, to wit the Honda Fit EV that at 160 inches is about three feet shorter than the Clarity and Accord. Honda sold only i,100 of the Fit EVs. Obviously, i could argue there'southward room for something in between, such as an EV version of the Honda Civic (367,000 sold last yr) or CR-V compact crossover (357,000 sold final twelvemonth).

The Clarity, fuel cell and electric, volition be publicly unveiled at the New York International Auto Show Apr 12. The Clarity Fuel Cell may have a range of 350-plus miles on a single tankful of hydrogen, which converts the fuel into electricity and water.

BMW i3 is the second-most efficient EV at 124 MPGe. Nonetheless, well-nigh half of buyers choose the range-extender i3 with a small gas helper engine.

The truth lies somewhere in the center

The reality from the automakers points of view should be tempered with the POV of buyers. Which is:

  • Sure, it merely takes 30 seconds to plug in an EV every night, just sometimes information technology gets forgotten. Information technology is the source of occasional spousal bickering over who forgot. And not every office has charging.
  • Just as yous're loath to bulldoze a combustion engine car when the low fuel light is on at startup, EV owners are nervous about going someplace when the range indicator is below, say, 25 miles. On a Clarity, you beginning getting worried after driving 55 miles (of the apparent 80), on a Ioniq EV afterwards 100 miles, and on the Bolt after 200 miles. Over time, you may drop the reserve-miles set-aside from 25 to 20 or 15 every bit y'all go more comfy, only never below ten.
  • Electricity is inexpensive at home. At public parking stations, information technology costs more than, sometimes a lot more, unless your purchase or charter includes complimentary fill-ups at, say, ChargePoint. With shorter range cars, you're more tempted to make full up on the route, merely to be safe. If yous pull upwardly to a public lot with charging, they may be in use, or one or the 2 is cleaved.
  • Fifty-fifty with the range of EV efficiency, 84 MPGe to 136 MPGe, buyers and owners believe that all EVs are significantly more efficient that combustion engine cars. It'south unclear how many volition be fatigued to the most efficient EV (currently the Ioniq) when the others are good plenty.

A curt range (100 miles or less) is acceptable if this is your 2nd motorcar, in which case a smaller EV is acceptable. For longer trips, you'll have to rent a combustion engine car or become a friend to drive. The advantage accrues to a brand and dealership that offers seamless weekend rentals of combustion engine cars and, if you're agreeable, that rents your EV out for the weekend to compensate costs. Weekend renters in urban areas like EVs because they're but going short distances.

Hyundai Ioniq comes in EV, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid versions.

Take your pick

Five years from now, all EVs will probably have 150-200 miles range, minimum, as batteries grow more efficient. Nosotros might see a 500-mile Tesla, for example. The fastest chargers will support all connectors, including Tesla and DC Fast Charge.

In the concurrently, y'all must choose what y'all want most: long range, efficiency (MPGe), roominess, or affordability. More of 1 means less of the others.

If you're shopping, keep an eye of the trade winds out of Washington. Information technology's possible the taxation credits of upward to $7,500 may go abroad nether the new administration, and some states with tax credits are cutting or eliminating theirs.