[TomEV]

While this thread is a bit dusty, I typically use the dollar/gallon VS btu/kWh because people always ask one of two questions -

How many MPG does it get?

How much does it cost to run?

Unfortunately, most people aren't familiar with btu's or kilowatts.

If you equate MPG based on what it costs to fuel an IC car, VS the price of electricity, than I use the present cost of gasoline (today it is $4.56 / gallon for regular) and the present cost for electricity to charge my EV (6.5 cents / kWh - 80 % geothermal here, balance is other renewables plus natural gas peaker plants).

Using the numbers above, the 'fuel' cost per mile to operate my Citicar is 1.625 cents a mile at 250 watts hours/mile.

It gets about 280 MPG when comparing today's gasoline cost. But as stated, this is a moving target, and has the effect of making electric cars appear more 'efficient' every time the price of gas goes up.

Using the BTU information, it gets 134 MPG. Seems to me that 134 MPG is rather understated... Feels like my 'MPG' is much more than that as the cost per mile is almost nothing.

IMHO it seems that the best way to keep records is watt hours/mile since price is a moving target, but MPG based on the current price of gas is more accessible to the unwashed. Is the standard here to use BTU equivalents?