A Guide To Fuel Efficient Driving — EVs Vs Fossil Fuel: The Showdown

January 18, 20213 years ago Barry A.F.

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This is a comparison article for the Guides to Fuel Efficient Driving. They present practical advice on how to increase your fuel economy which reduces carbon produced and saves you money. In case you missed them:

Part One, Part Two, Part Three

Each facet brought discussed in all three articles is summarized below, compared, and the superior technology highlighted between Electric Vehicles (EV) vs Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles:

Part One

EV	ICE	Advantage
Less efficiency variation between models in the same class	Huge efficiency variations between models in the same class	EV
Almost no efficiency loss due to age	More efficiency loss due to age	EV
Some range loss due to battery wear, at EOL decades later the batteries will be toast.	Some to moderate efficiency loss due to component wear, at EOL repair is not cost effective	EV
Less complex technology	More complex technology (direct injection, transmissions etc)	EV
Less preventive maintenance throughout the vehicle’s lifetime (belts, oil changes etc).	More preventive maintenance throughout the vehicle’s lifetime (belts, oil changes etc).	EV
Less maintenance/repair costs over its lifetime	More maintenance/repair costs over its lifetime	EV
Higher upfront cost	Lower upfront cost	ICE
Lower lifetime total cost	Higher lifetime total cost	EV
Low tire pressure causes efficiency loss	Low tire pressure causes efficiency loss	Neither
Aerodynamics are easier to optimize at the design stage due to less component cooling needs	Aerodynamics are harder to optimize at the design stage due to more component cooling needs	EV
Tire rolling resistance does influence efficiency	Tire rolling resistance does influence efficiency	Neither

Part Two

EV	ICE	Advantage
Cold “engine” does not appreciably affect efficiency	Cold engine greatly affects efficiency	EV
Combining trips saves some cabin conditioning energy	Combining trips saves a huge percentage of fuel	EV
Zero idling loss, some cabin conditioning loss if needed	Incessant idling loss, increased if cabin conditioning is needed	EV
Short trips exact little electricity penalty	Short trips exact huge fuel penalty	EV
Higher mileage in city vs highway driving	Lower mileage in city vs highway driving	EV
Lower mileage in highway driving vs city driving	Higher mileage in highway driving vs city driving	ICE
Wind resistance increases as a squared value of speed	Wind resistance increases as a squared value of speed	Neither if the aerodynamic resistance is the same, but EVs are easier to design to be more aerodynamic
Lower highway speed increases efficiency	Lower highway speed increases efficiency	Neither
Flat “engine” efficiency curve	Varied engine efficiency curves, hard to optimize for	EV
Wind speed and direction affects mileage	Wind speed and direction affects mileage	Neither if aerodynamic resistance is identical between the two vehicles
Rate of acceleration does not appreciably affect efficiency	Rate of acceleration does appreciably affect efficiency	EV
Typically no transmission	Travelling in lower gears is less efficient for the same trip	EV
brake-gas-brake-gas-brake moderately efficient	brake-gas-brake-gas-brake very inefficient	EV
Coasting saves some electricity	Coasting saves a great deal of fuel	EV because regen + coasting is superior to coasting
Timing traffic lights saves some electricity	Timing traffic lights saves a lot of fuel	Neither as both benefit
Regen efficiency is typically 66-75% round trip	Regen efficiency is 0%	EV
Highway stop and go as efficient as EV city mileage	Highway stop and go often even less efficient than ICE city mileage	EV

Part Three

EV	ICE	Advantage
Air Conditioning will increase electricity usage	Air Conditioning will increase fuel usage	Neither
Winter tires will increase electricity usage	Winter tires will increase fuel usage	Neither
Clearing body of snow will increase efficiency	Clearing body of snow will increase efficiency	Neither
Driving in snow/rain will reduce efficiency	Driving in snow/rain will reduce efficiency	Neither
Wind resistance is higher in winter	Wind resistance is higher in winter	Neither
Cabin heating uses propulsive fuel in every circumstance. However pre-conditioning can be done while plugged in.	Cabin heating uses propulsive fuel in only limited circumstances	ICE
Headlights are typically LED from the factory	Headlights are typically halogen, using more energy. Some are LED from the factory	EV
No need for a block heater.	Block heater reduces fuel use.	EV
An EV is eco mode	Eco mode saves some fuel	EV
Winter electricity is identical to summer electricity.	Winter gas contains less energy per liter/gallon	EV
Drafting saves fuel but is dangerous	Drafting saves fuel but is dangerous	Neither
Avoiding convoys is wise	Avoiding convoys is wise	Neither
Parking in strategic locations saves electricity	Parking in strategic locations saves fuel	Neither

Not Covered In Any Part:

No tailpipe pollution	Most of an ICE vehicle’s operating pollution comes before the catalytic converter is heated up (short trips)	EV
Low cost of fuel, often 1/4 to 1/2 the cost of gasoline	High cost of fuel and subject to the whims of OPEC	EV
Drive-thrus only require cabin conditioning fuel	Drive-thrus waste fuel immensely in idling and cabin conditioning.	EV

Summary:

EV	ICE	Neither
27	3	14

In regards to efficiency, Electric Vehicles destroy fossil fuel powered vehicles. And where there is a disadvantage a bit more low cost (and easily made renewable) electricity will typically make up the difference.

Thanks to commenter jonesey for the idea for this comparison article.

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