When electric vehicles are the subject, one specification that’s routinely cited is overall range. Its prominence is partly in response to early EVs that had sub-100-mile driving ranges, but it’s also referenced to show just how far modern-day EVs can travel — on par with gas-powered vehicles in some cases. It’s an important spec — especially for someone whose only car may be an EV — but there’s another important data point to consider, and that’s overall efficiency.
Related: Electric Cars With the Longest Range
Even the most inefficient EVs are more efficient than the most efficient gas-electric hybrids when evaluated using the EPA’s mpg-equivalent rating, which is an effort to represent EV efficiency in terms familiar to shoppers, where higher numbers are better. As of publication, the least efficient EV from the 2022 model year is the Audi E-Tron S, which is rated 62/64/63 mpg-e city/highway/combined. The most efficient hybrid is the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Blue, which is rated 58/60/59 mpg.
But just as there are large differences in efficiency between certain gas-powered vehicles, there are also significant differences between electric-powered ones. And beyond the same benefits that come with having a more efficient gas vehicle — using less (and spending less money on) energy — the most efficient EVs also replenish miles of range faster when charging than the less efficient ones, all other things being equal.
Taking the E-Tron S again, it uses 53 kilowatt-hours of energy to travel 100 miles, according to the EPA. The most efficient EV from the 2022 model year, the rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3, uses 25 kWh, or less than half the amount of energy. The E-Tron S has a higher-capacity onboard charger than the RWD Model 3 — 9.6 kilowatts versus 7.6 — but if both vehicles charged at 7.6 kW, it would take around 7 hours to add 100 miles of range to the E-Tron S and a little less than 3.5 hours to add the same amount of range to the Model 3. Charging at the E-Tron S’ maximum rate of 9.6 kW, it would still take 5.5 hours to add 100 miles of range.
The E-Tron S is larger than the Model 3, but you’ll find the specifications reveal substantial efficiency differences between models in the same class.
This same type of analysis can be applied to gas-powered vehicles, too, as the EPA provides gallons-per-100-miles data. However, the high speed at which a gas tank can be replenished, with the difference in adding 10 gallons or 20 gallons measured in minutes versus hours, makes any time saved by choosing a more efficient gas vehicle less consequential.
The following list highlights the 10 most efficient EVs of the 2022 model year. Where more than one version of a given model qualifies, we selected the most efficient version. Energy use, combined efficiency and range are EPA-estimated figures. Prices do not include any available local, state or federal incentives.
Most Efficient Electric Vehicles (Energy Use Per 100 Miles)
1. 2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD: 25 kWh
2. 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring w/19-inch wheels: 26 kWh
3. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV: 28 kWh
4. 2022 Hyundai Kona EV: 28 kWh
5. 2022 Tesla Model S: 28 kWh
6. 2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range: 28 kWh
7. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV: 29 kWh
8. 2022 Kia EV6 RWD: 29 kWh
9. 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD: 30 kWh
10. 2022 Kia Niro EV: 30 kWh
2022 Tesla Model 3 RWD
Energy use: 25 kWh/100 miles
Combined efficiency: 132 mpg-e
Price: $46,190, including $1,200 destination charge
