EPA's Top Ten Rated Vehicles List for Model Year 2013 is All Electric
May 13, 2013
The 2013 model year marks the first time when the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) top ten most fuel efficient vehicles list is comprised entirely of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are highly efficient so it is not surprising to see them topping the list. The fact that the list is now made up entirely of electric vehicles is a reflection of the growing number of electric models available to consumers.
The Scion iQ takes the top spot with a combined fuel economy of 121 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent) while the midsize Nissan Leaf comes in at number four. The Tesla Model S is a large sedan and comes with two battery pack options (60 kW-hr and 85 kW-hr) which achieved an EPA combined average of 95 and 89 MPGe respectively.
EPA Top Ten Rated Vehicles for Model Year 2013
Note
The EPA tests all-electric vehicles at their testing facility in Ann Arbor Michigan (Fuel Economy Tests). Vehicles are fully charged and left overnight before testing. The vehicles are run through successive test cycles until they are unable to perform. The vehicles are then fully recharged and the electricity used to recharge the vehicle is measured at the wall outlet in kW-hrs. To determine the MPGe value, the EPA uses a conversion factor of 33.705 kW-hrs = 1 gallon of gasoline.
Source
U.S. EPA and DOE Fuel Economy Website. Accessed May 8, 2013.