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What electricity does an electric car actually use? Not in the brochure - in reality!
We could have made 623 cups of coffee. Or toast 1.183,7 slices of toast. But we had already had breakfast and had therefore chosen a Mercedes B-Class ED as the electricity consumer for this morning. Fully charged, we started our new round of consumption measurements. Easy, relaxed, and relaxed a little “testing the car” – but one after the other.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive / The consumption test
Since the beginning of 2013, we have had our own on auto-blog Cycle devisedto show you, the readers, the fuel consumption of a test car in a realistic scenario. We have chosen that presented three categories of motorists. They can do all that here read in detail. Our idea made so much sense that the renowned “auto, motor und sport” also started at the end of 2014 with the same categories. However, we have had a lot of work in the last few months and the time for the long and detailed test drives has become increasingly scarce. We have therefore defined a simple fourth reference round. Filled up, drove, filled up. Complete. A reference lap, especially for us, to be able to classify the efficiency of the vehicles. Contrary to what Google Maps claims, the loop is 42 to 42.5 km long and the journey time of almost 60 minutes shows that it is a low average speed. But it is a demanding route. Very curvy and with a few meters of elevation. It's not like you can just coast through. This route feels like it replicates a typical commuter route from the country to the city quite well.
Mercedes-B Class - What does an electric car consume on the test track? And what's the result?
The “consumption measurement” of an electric car is even simpler and more precise than for gasoline and diesel engines, even if you always use the same gas pump, there is still room for inaccuracy. We can measure the power consumption directly “from the can”. Our mobile wallbox with type 2 connector is connected to an electricity meter that was only installed for the e-car power supply. In this way, all charging losses can be included in the total consumption.
Test consumption: Mercedes-Benz B-Class ED - 21,2 kWh per 100 km
On our test lap, the B-Class consumed 8.9 kWh. This statement is unclear. Because electric vehicles recuperate power. One would correctly say: “For the test lap of 42 km, 8.9 kWh of external power had to be added”. These 8.9 kWh are extrapolated to 100 kW of electrical power per 21.2 kilometers.
Those who get the electricity from their own roof can count themselves lucky and exemplary. CO2-free and - apart from the acquisition costs of the PV system - free of charge! So 100 km will cost exactly zero euros!
If you compare this with a B-Class, almost 5 liters of diesel or 7 liters of gasoline would have been due. The answer to the question of what you can save with an electric car would be: money and CO2.
At this point you would have to stop with the article, if it were only about wanting to put electric mobility one-sidedly in the colorful and positive foreground. But we are not doing ourselves a favor.
On the same route, an Infiniti Q30 with the 1.5 liter used Renault Diesel 3.7 liter (extrapolated to 100km). 3.7 liter vs. 21.2 kWh - what does that mean? (Among other things, that the comparison is not quite fair, because the Q30 is lighter and smaller ..)
A comparison of costs and emissions: 3.7 liters are currently not even 4 € expensive, but those who have to pay for the electricity will probably pay an average of 26 cents per kWh. That is then € 5,51. Ouch. And that when the B-Class ED is already more expensive than its sibling with a combustion engine. That leaves the CO2 argument. For the diesel, 9.800 grams of CO2 are on the bill (based on the test consumption determined). And who just fills up with electricity from the (plug) socket? He has to answer for an average of 508 grams of CO2 per kWh and thus 10.769 grams over 100 km. That is a harsh fact.
The electric vehicle - the right solution for owners of PV systems and green electricity customers!
CO2-neutral? Only possible if you pay attention to the composition of the electricity mix used (i.e.The political discussion that there is a general electricity mix - that is, the eco-customer turns into milking cattle - is not an issue here), or those who keep their mobility in operation with their own PV system.
At the very end there remains a very clear argument “for electromobility”: The driving pleasure. Yes. I agree. Without any engine sound. Even if it doesn't smell of benzene and CO2, even if the engine isn't blaring, you can still enjoy driving. Because the always directly applied torque of the electric motor ensures entertaining stages across the country, away from the traffic lights and even when commuting. Quickly get out of town while enjoying the seamless power of the electric motors - quite apart from the CO2 debate, don't forget: Driving can be fun. And e-mobility is fun.
And finally ...
You save neither money nor CO2 if you only take one step. Electric mobility requires a further step. Or two. A completed energy transition so that you are really emission-free. And it makes sense to have your own electricity. And then you can also make 623 cups of coffee (8.9 kWh energy consumption), or go emission-free, but not fun-free, on our test round.
More on the electric B-Class in brief, how far you can get electric and how it feels to drive - the entire B-Class in a comprehensive test. Here at autohub.de
[tabgroup] [tab title=”Test Route”][/tab] [tab title=”Notes”]Explanation and further information on the topic of CO2 comparison of different energy sources: izu.bayern. What do you do with a kWh electricity? [/tab] [/tabgroup]