Listed in order of most efficient to the least, using the WLTP consumption rating.
You can predict the cost to charge the vehicle by entering the unit price you pay for electricity (check your power bill). Tip: get lower running costs by using a power plan that has half-price off peak rates.
| Vehicle | kWh/100km | Charging cost ($/100km) |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Aceman SE | 13.8 | $3.45 |
| Mini Cooper SE | 14.1 | $3.53 |
| Mini Aceman E | 14.1 | $3.53 |
| Fiat 500e | 14.2 | $3.55 |
| Polestar 2 Long Range | 14.8 | $3.70 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 14.9 | $3.73 |
| Kia EV3 Light SR | 14.9 | $3.73 |
| Kia EV3 Light LR | 14.9 | $3.73 |
| BYD Dolphin Essential | 15.2 | $3.80 |
| BYD Seal Dynamic | 15.3 | $3.83 |
| Mini Cooper JCW | 15.3 | $3.83 |
| Jeep Avenger | 15.4 | $3.85 |
| Omoda E5 | 15.5 | $3.88 |
| BYD Atto 3 Premium | 15.6 | $3.90 |
| Volvo EX30 Single | 15.7 | $3.93 |
| Tesla Model Y | 15.7 | $3.93 |
| BYD Atto 3 Essential | 15.7 | $3.93 |
| Cupra Born V+ | 15.8 | $3.95 |
| Geely EX5 Complete | 15.8 | $3.95 |
| BYD Dolphin Premium | 15.9 | $3.98 |
| Polestar 2 Long Range Dual | 15.9 | $3.98 |
| BMW i4 eDrive40 | 16 | $4.00 |
| MG 4 Excite 64 | 16 | $4.00 |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 16 | $4.00 |
| Subaru Solterra | 16 | $4.00 |
| Mini Aceman JCW | 16 | $4.00 |
| Kia EV3 Earth | 16.2 | $4.05 |
| Kia EV3 GT-Line | 16.2 | $4.05 |
| Volvo EX30 Twin | 16.3 | $4.08 |
| Smart #3 Premium | 16.3 | $4.08 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 | 16.4 | $4.10 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQA 250+ | 16.4 | $4.10 |
| MG 4 Long Range | 16.5 | $4.13 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron 45 | 16.5 | $4.13 |
| MG 4 Essence 64 | 16.6 | $4.15 |
| BYD Seal Premium | 16.6 | $4.15 |
| Geely EX5 Inspire | 16.6 | $4.15 |
| BMW iX 50 | 16.7 | $4.18 |
| GWM Ora | 16.7 | $4.18 |
| GWM Ora Extended | 16.7 | $4.18 |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | 16.7 | $4.18 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback | 16.7 | $4.18 |
| Smart #1 Premium | 16.7 | $4.18 |
| Lexus UX 300e | 16.8 | $4.20 |
| MG 4 Excite 51 | 16.8 | $4.20 |
| BMW iX1 eDrive20 | 16.8 | $4.20 |
| Polestar 2 Dual Performance | 16.8 | $4.20 |
| Smart #3 Pro+ | 16.8 | $4.20 |
| MG Cyberster RWD | 16.8 | $4.20 |
| Toyota bZ4X Pure | 16.9 | $4.23 |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | 16.9 | $4.23 |
| Mini Countryman SE | 17 | $4.25 |
| Porsche Macan Electric | 17 | $4.25 |
| BMW iX2 eDrive20 | 17.1 | $4.28 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD | 17.2 | $4.30 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron 55 | 17.3 | $4.33 |
| Smart #1 Pro+ | 17.4 | $4.35 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQA 350 | 17.5 | $4.38 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+ | 17.5 | $4.38 |
| Polestar 3 Single | 17.6 | $4.40 |
| Smart #3 BRABUS | 17.6 | $4.40 |
| MG ZS EV | 17.7 | $4.43 |
| MG ZS EV Long Range | 17.7 | $4.43 |
| Porsche Macan 4S Electric | 17.7 | $4.43 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 | 17.8 | $4.45 |
| Polestar 4 Single | 17.8 | $4.45 |
| Subaru Solterra Touring | 17.9 | $4.48 |
| Porsche Macan 4 Electric | 17.9 | $4.48 |
| BMW i5 M60 Touring | 18 | $4.50 |
| Kia EV5 Light plus | 18 | $4.50 |
| Kia EV5 Light | 18 | $4.50 |
| Toyota bZ4X Motion | 18.1 | $4.53 |
| BMW iX1 xDrive30 | 18.1 | $4.53 |
| Abarth 500e | 18.1 | $4.53 |
| BYD Seal Performance | 18.2 | $4.55 |
| Smart #1 BRABUS | 18.2 | $4.55 |
| Volvo XC40 Recharge | 18.3 | $4.58 |
| Nissan Ariya Engage | 18.5 | $4.63 |
| Nissan Ariya Advance | 18.5 | $4.63 |
| Kia EV5 Earth | 18.5 | $4.63 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD | 18.7 | $4.68 |
| MG 4 XPower | 18.7 | $4.68 |
| Nissan Ariya Evolve | 18.7 | $4.68 |
| Polestar 4 Dual | 18.7 | $4.68 |
| KGM Torres EVX | 18.7 | $4.68 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 | 18.8 | $4.70 |
| Porsche Macan Turbo Electric | 18.8 | $4.70 |
| Audi Q6 e-tron Advanced | 18.8 | $4.70 |
| Leapmotor C10 | 18.8 | $4.70 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 SUV | 18.9 | $4.73 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE 300 SUV | 18.9 | $4.73 |
| Volvo XC40 Ultimate | 19 | $4.75 |
| BMW i4 M50 | 19 | $4.75 |
| MG Cyberster AWD | 19.1 | $4.78 |
| BMW iX3 | 19.5 | $4.88 |
| Kia EV9 Light | 19.5 | $4.88 |
| BMW i7 xDrive60 | 19.6 | $4.90 |
| BMW i5 M60 xDrive | 19.6 | $4.90 |
| Audi Q6 e-tron S line quattro | 19.6 | $4.90 |
| Polestar 3 Dual | 19.7 | $4.93 |
| BYD Sealion 7 Premium | 19.9 | $4.98 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E GT | 20 | $5.00 |
| Audi e-tron GT quattro | 20.1 | $5.03 |
| Kia EV5 Earth AWD | 20.1 | $5.03 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB | 20.7 | $5.18 |
| Audi RS e-tron GT | 20.9 | $5.23 |
| Kia EV5 GT-Line | 21 | $5.25 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro LWB | 21 | $5.25 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Sedan | 21.2 | $5.30 |
| Audi Q8 e-tron 55 | 21.3 | $5.33 |
| LDV MIFA 9 | 21.3 | $5.33 |
| Lotus Eletre S | 21.4 | $5.35 |
| Lotus Emeya S | 21.4 | $5.35 |
| BYD Sealion 7 Performance | 21.4 | $5.35 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 53 | 21.8 | $5.45 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS 680 Maybach | 22 | $5.50 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 53 SUV | 22.1 | $5.53 |
| Polestar 3 Performance | 22.2 | $5.55 |
| Rolls-Royce Spectre | 22.2 | $5.55 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | 22.5 | $5.63 |
| Kia EV9 GT-Line | 22.8 | $5.70 |
| Audi Q8 e-tron 55 S line | 22.9 | $5.73 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS AMG 53 | 23 | $5.75 |
| Kia EV9 Earth | 23.1 | $5.78 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV | 24.3 | $6.08 |
| BMW iX M60 | 24.7 | $6.18 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX | 25 | $6.25 |
| Porsche Taycan | 26.5 | $6.63 |
| LDV eT60 | 26.8 | $6.70 |
| Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback | 27.4 | $6.85 |
| Mercedes-Benz G 580 | 27.7 | $6.93 |
| Lotus Eletre R | 28 | $7.00 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQV 300 | 29.1 | $7.28 |
What is WLTP consumption?
The WLTP is the benchmark for comparing EV range and running costs. It measures recharged electric energy from the mains.
Example: A car that uses 16 kWh / 100 km means:
For the car to travel 100 kilometres (in average conditions), it will consume 16 kWh of electricity from your switchboard.
Some of this electricity will get lost in the charging process (called charging loss), and some might go to pre-heating the battery (in some vehicles).
How electric energy consumption is measured
Efficiency can be expressed in three different ways.
- watt-hours consumed per kilometre travelled – Wh / km.
- kilowatt-hours per 100 km travelled – kWh / 100 km.
- kilometres per kilowatt-hour (the number of kilometres travelled per kWh of electricity) – km / kWh
Energy consumption can be measured from the battery or recharged electric energy from the mains.
- Battery consumption allows comparison on a drive-by-drive basis (viewed in the dashboard).
- Mains consumption is good for comparing running costs as it considers charging losses (measured using special equipment).
Car reviewers routinely mix up the two measurements: “The WLTP says 167 Wh / km, but I managed to get 148 Wh / km.”
Unless the reviewer wired up a meter to measure power leaving the mains (during recharging) – they are not comparing the same thing.
How is EV efficiency measured?
The WLTP testing process depletes the battery and then recharges it again (while measuring electricity leaving the mains). This process, along with other calculations, predicts a consumption figure using recharged energy from the mains.
The test cycle also measures electricity consumption from the battery during travel to estimate the EV’s range.
What affects efficiency?
Efficiency is affected by vehicle mass, powertrain, aerodynamic drag, and rolling resistance.
An efficient EV is lighter, has a low aerodynamic drag coefficient, and has an efficient powertrain that maximises regenerative braking.
Why drive an efficient EV?
- Lower running costs – less recharging needed.
- Fewer emissions during travel – NZ has around 85% of renewables but still generates electricity from fossil fuel sources.
- Fewer emissions during production – inefficient EVs have larger batteries to power larger mass.
EV economy cheat sheet
Your EVs trip computer or dashboard display will show your driving efficiency. Sometimes, monitoring your efficiency using the kilometres per kWh measure is helpful.
Here’s a quick conversion between the different units.
| kWh / 100 km | km / kWh | Efficiency |
| 10 | 10.0 | Ridiculous |
| 10.5 | 9.5 | Ridiculous |
| 11 | 9.1 | Ridiculous |
| 11.5 | 8.7 | Excellent |
| 12 | 8.3 | Excellent |
| 12.5 | 8.0 | Excellent |
| 13 | 7.7 | Good |
| 13.5 | 7.4 | Good |
| 14 | 7.1 | Good |
| 14.5 | 6.9 | Normal |
| 15 | 6.7 | Normal |
| 15.5 | 6.5 | Normal |
| 16 | 6.3 | Normal |
| 16.5 | 6.1 | Normal |
| 17 | 5.9 | Highway |
| 17.5 | 5.7 | Highway |
| 18 | 5.6 | Highway |
| 18.5 | 5.4 | Highway |
| 19 | 5.3 | Highway |
| 19.5 | 5.1 | Highway |
| 20 | 5.0 | Highway |
