Comparative EPA Fuel Economy Tests of EVs versus ICE Vehicles

Results of road and dynamometer tests to compare the energy consumption of a battery powered electric vehicle and a similar ICE vehicle are reported. Test cycles included the SAE J227aC, EPA, FTP and HFET, the Southern California Edison 3 stop/mile, and a freeway route. Disagreements in the results of dynamometer and road tests, and fuel economy differences due to dynamometer calibration method, are noted. Differences in the relative fuel economy of the electric and ICE vehicle as large as 25% are shown by using different test procedures and computational methods. Recommendations for developing a new test procedure are presented which could increase the equivalent fuel economy for EVs and use the standard EPA driving cycles for both types of vehicles.