# Fuel Consumption Calculator

A complete tool for Gas, EV, & CNG Vehicles. Calculate economy, trip costs, CO₂ emissions, and more.

### 1. Find Your Vehicle's Economy

Calculate manually OR select a vehicle from the list to get a baseline.

Manual Calculation:

Distance Traveled
Fuel Used

Manual Calculation:

Distance Traveled
Energy Used (kWh)
OR

Select Average Vehicle:

### 2. Your Economy & Trip Details

Your calculated or selected economy is shown below. Use it to plan your trip.

Trip Distance
This is a Round Trip
Price (per liter)
Electricity Price (per kWh)
Fuel Type (for CO₂)

### 3. Trip Estimation Results

Enter your details to see the results.

## Advanced Comparison: Gas vs. EV vs. CNG

A detailed, side-by-side analysis for all three major vehicle types.

### Trip Details

Trip Distance (km)

### ☁️ Environmental

EV Grid CO₂ (g/kWh)

### ⛽ Gas Vehicle

Economy (L/100km)
Gas Price (/liter)
Refuel Time (min)

### ⚡ Electric Vehicle

Efficiency (kWh/100km)
Electricity Price (/kWh)
Charging Power (kW)

### 💨 CNG Vehicle

Economy (kg/100km)
CNG Price (/kg)
Refuel Time (min)

## The Ultimate Guide to Vehicle Fuel Consumption (Gas, EV & CNG)

In an era of volatile energy prices and heightened environmental consciousness, mastering the art of vehicle energy management is no longer just for enthusiasts—it's a practical skill for every driver. Whether you're behind the wheel of a traditional gasoline-powered car, a modern electric vehicle (EV), or a cost-effective CNG car, understanding its consumption is the key to unlocking significant financial savings, reducing your ecological footprint, and ensuring your vehicle remains in peak condition. This comprehensive guide, paired with our powerful universal calculator, will walk you through everything you need to know.

### Part 1: The Fundamentals of Fuel Consumption (Internal Combustion Engine)

For decades, "fuel economy" has been the benchmark for vehicle efficiency. It’s a measure of how far a car can travel on a specific amount of fuel. Understanding the terminology is the first step.

#### Key Metrics Explained (Petrol/Diesel)

- Liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km): The standard in Europe, Canada, and Australia. It measures how many liters of fuel are needed to travel 100 kilometers. Here, a lower number is better. For example, a car with 7 L/100km is more efficient than one with 10 L/100km.
- Miles Per Gallon (MPG): The standard in the United States and the UK. It measures how many miles a car can travel on one gallon of fuel. Here, a higher number is better. A car with 40 MPG is more efficient than one with 25 MPG.

#### The "Fill-Up" Method: Your Gold Standard for Accuracy

Your car's dashboard provides a convenient estimate, but it can often be optimistic. To find your car's true, real-world fuel economy, use the tried-and-tested "fill-up" method:

1. Go to the gas station and fill your tank completely.
2. Reset your trip meter (Trip A or B) to zero.
3. Drive your car as you normally would until the tank is at least half empty.
4. Return to the gas station and fill the tank completely again.
5. Note the exact distance on your trip meter (e.g., 452 km) and the exact amount of fuel you just added (e.g., 35.8 liters).
6. Enter these numbers into our calculator's "Manual Calculation" section to get your precise fuel economy.

### Part 2: The New Frontier: Electric Vehicle (EV) Efficiency

Electric vehicles don't use fuel, so their efficiency is measured differently. Instead of liters or gallons, the "fuel" is electricity, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

#### Key EV Metrics Explained

- Kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers (kWh/100km): This is the most direct equivalent to L/100km. It tells you how many kWh of electricity are needed to travel 100 kilometers. Just like L/100km, a lower number is better. A typical EV might achieve 15-20 kWh/100km.
- Miles Per Gallon equivalent (MPGe): An EPA-created metric to help consumers compare EVs to gasoline cars. It’s based on the fact that one gallon of gasoline contains about 33.7 kWh of energy. While useful for a rough comparison, kWh/100km is far more practical for real-world cost calculations.

### Part 3: The Alternative - Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

CNG has emerged as a popular, cost-effective alternative to petrol and diesel in many parts of the world. It is essentially methane stored at high pressure.

#### Key CNG Metrics Explained

- Kilograms per 100 kilometers (kg/100km): This is the standard efficiency metric for CNG vehicles. Unlike liquid fuels, CNG is dispensed and measured by mass (kilograms). Therefore, the metric shows how many kilograms of CNG are needed to travel 100 kilometers. As with L/100km and kWh/100km, a lower number is better. A typical CNG sedan might consume 4-6 kg/100km.

#### Pros and Cons of CNG

- Pros: Typically much cheaper per unit of energy than petrol. It also burns cleaner, producing about 25% less CO₂ than an equivalent petrol engine.
- Cons: Lower energy density (meaning less range from a full tank), the high-pressure tanks take up significant trunk space, and refueling infrastructure is less common than for petrol or even EV charging in many regions.

### Part 4: How to Use Our All-in-One Calculator

Our tool is designed to be both powerful and intuitive. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

#### Step 1: Select Your Vehicle Type (Fuel or EV)

Start by clicking the "Fuel Vehicle" or "Electric Vehicle" toggle at the top. This customizes the main calculator for your needs. If you drive a CNG car, select "Fuel Vehicle".

#### Step 2: Determine Your Vehicle's Economy

In the first column, you have two choices:

- Manual Calculation: Use the "Fill-Up" method for gas/diesel/CNG or a recent trip's data for an EV to find your exact, real-world economy. For CNG, ensure you enter the fuel used in kilograms.
- Select Average Vehicle: Choose a vehicle type from our pre-populated list (which includes CNG models) to get a typical economy figure for quick estimates.

#### Step 3: Plan Your Trip

In the second column, enter your trip details. If using the "Fuel Vehicle" calculator, you can select your specific fuel type: **Petrol, Diesel, or CNG**. The calculator will automatically adjust the labels for price (e.g., "per kg" for CNG) and use the correct CO₂ factors.

#### Step 4: Analyze the Results

The third column instantly displays your trip estimates, including total fuel/energy needed, total cost, and the carbon footprint, all calculated using the correct metrics for your selected vehicle type.

#### Bonus: The Advanced Gas vs. EV vs. CNG Comparison Tool

This powerful feature at the bottom of the page allows for a true apples-to-apples-to-oranges comparison. It analyzes a trip for all three vehicle types across four key metrics:

- Cost: A direct comparison of the total cost for the trip.
- Time: Compares the time spent refueling or recharging.
- CO₂ Emissions: Provides a nuanced environmental comparison, even accounting for the carbon intensity of the local electricity grid for EVs.
- Winner Declaration: A clear summary at the end tells you which vehicle type is the most cost-effective for the journey you've planned.

### Part 5: Actionable Tips to Maximize Your Efficiency

Calculating is the first step; improving is the goal. These strategies apply to all vehicle types.

#### Driving Style Adjustments (The Biggest Impact)

- Drive Smoothly: Aggressive driving is the primary efficiency killer. It can lower your mileage by 15-30%. Pretend there's an egg under your accelerator pedal. Anticipate stops and coast.
- Obey Speed Limits: Fuel economy and EV efficiency plummet at high speeds. Driving at 120 km/h instead of 100 km/h can use up to 20% more energy.

#### Vehicle Maintenance is Non-Negotiable

- Proper Tire Inflation: This is the easiest fix. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance, forcing your engine or motor to work harder, which can reduce efficiency by 3-5%.
- Regular Service: A well-maintained vehicle runs more efficiently. This includes regular oil changes, replacing clogged air filters (for ICE/CNG), and tire rotations.

#### Reduce Weight and Aerodynamic Drag

- Remove Unnecessary Weight: Every extra 50 kg (110 lbs) can reduce efficiency by 1-2%.
- Ditch the Roof Rack: A roof rack creates massive wind resistance and can slash your efficiency by 5-25% at highway speeds.

### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

#### Why is my car's real-world economy different from the manufacturer's rating?

Manufacturer ratings are achieved in controlled lab conditions. Real-world driving involves traffic, hills, wind, varying temperatures, and your personal driving style, all of which affect efficiency.

#### What is "grid carbon intensity"?

This measures how much CO₂ is emitted to produce one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity in a specific region. A grid powered by coal will have a high intensity, while a grid powered by renewables will have a low one. This is crucial for accurately comparing an EV's "well-to-wheel" emissions.

#### Petrol vs. Diesel vs. CNG: Which is best?

It depends on your priorities. Diesel is often the most fuel-efficient but has higher local pollutant emissions. CNG is typically the cheapest to run and cleaner than petrol, but with range and availability drawbacks. Petrol offers a balance of performance and widespread availability. Our comparison tool is designed to help you answer this question based on your specific numbers.

### Conclusion: Take Command of Your Driving Costs

A universal fuel consumption calculator is more than a math tool; it's a diagnostic device for your driving habits and a financial planner for your budget. By regularly tracking your vehicle's performance and using our comparison tools, you can gain firm control over one of your most significant recurring expenses. Bookmark this page, use it often, and start driving smarter today.