Fuel Efficiency Converter

Convert between different units of fuel efficiency measurement including miles per gallon (MPG), liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km), kilometers per liter, and more. Essential for automotive and transportation calculations.

Common Fuel Efficiency Conversions

US vs Metric:
• 30 mpg (US) ≈ 7.84 L/100km
• 25 mpg (US) ≈ 9.41 L/100km
• 6 L/100km ≈ 39.2 mpg (US)
• 8 L/100km ≈ 29.4 mpg (US)
Vehicle Categories:
• Compact car: 25-35 mpg
• Mid-size car: 20-30 mpg
• SUV: 15-25 mpg
• Truck: 12-20 mpg
Hybrid/Electric:
• Hybrid: 40-60 mpg
• Plug-in hybrid: 80-120 MPGe
• Electric: 100-130 MPGe
• Fuel cell: 60-80 MPGe
International:
• UK gallon: 20% larger than US
• EU standard: L/100km
• Japan: km/L common
• Canada: L/100km official

⛽ Fuel Efficiency vs Consumption

Efficiency Units: Distance per fuel volume (mpg, km/L) - higher is better

Consumption Units: Fuel volume per distance (L/100km, gal/100mi) - lower is better

Relationship: Efficiency = 1/Consumption (with unit conversion)

US Standard: Miles per gallon (mpg) - efficiency format

Metric Standard: Liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) - consumption format

🚗 Factors Affecting Fuel Efficiency

Driving Habits: Aggressive acceleration/braking reduces efficiency by 15-30%

Speed: Efficiency peaks around 45-55 mph, drops significantly above 70 mph

Vehicle Maintenance: Proper tire pressure, clean air filter, regular tune-ups

Load: Extra 100 lbs reduces efficiency by 1-2%

Weather: Cold weather, A/C use, headwinds affect consumption

🌍 Global Standards & Regulations

CAFE Standards (US): Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements

EU Standards: CO₂ emissions limits (g/km) tied to fuel consumption

Testing Cycles: EPA (US), NEDC/WLTP (EU), JC08 (Japan)

Real-world vs Lab: Actual efficiency often 15-25% lower than rated

🔋 Alternative Fuel Metrics

MPGe: Miles per gallon equivalent (electric vehicles)

kWh/100mi: Energy consumption for electric vehicles

kg H₂/100km: Hydrogen fuel cell consumption

GGE: Gasoline gallon equivalent for natural gas vehicles

Conversion: 1 gallon gasoline ≈ 33.7 kWh energy content

💰 Economic Impact

Fuel Cost Calculation: (Distance / Efficiency) × Fuel Price

Annual Savings: Improving from 20 to 30 mpg saves ~$800/year (15k mi)

Vehicle Selection: Higher efficiency often justifies higher purchase price

Fleet Management: Efficiency improvements reduce operating costs

🌱 Environmental Impact

CO₂ Emissions: ~19.6 lbs CO₂ per gallon of gasoline burned

Efficiency Doubling: Cuts fuel consumption and emissions in half

Lifecycle Analysis: Consider vehicle production, fuel extraction, disposal

Alternative Fuels: Biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen have different carbon footprints

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