Life & Career · 油耗（Fuel Consumption） · Updated 2026-10-25
What Is Fuel Consumption?
Definition
China quotes L/100km (lower is better); the US quotes MPG (higher is better); convert via L/100km = 235.2 ÷ MPG. Drivers of burn: stop-and-go urban traffic can double highway figures (idling + acceleration); A/C adds 10-20%; 0.5 bar under-inflation adds 2-4%; hard acceleration and braking add 20-30%. EVs quote kWh/100km: at 15 kWh/100km and 0.6 yuan/kWh, energy costs ~9 yuan per 100 km — about a quarter of a comparable ICE.
Formula
L/100km = 235.2 ÷ MPG(US); EV cost = kWh/100km × electricity price
Worked Example
At 8.5 L/100km and 7.8 yuan/L, each km costs 0.66 yuan — ~9,945 yuan over 15,000 km/year. A comparable EV at 14 kWh/100km on 0.5 yuan home charging costs 0.07 yuan/km — 1,050 yuan/year.
Common Misconception
"Break-in periods drink fuel; a highway blast fixes it" — modern engines need no high-speed break-in; high burn usually comes from idling and short trips. And "premium fuel saves gas" — octane is anti-knock rating only; a car specced for 92 gains nothing from 95.
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