Fuel Economy Converter - Free Online Tool

Convert fuel economy units instantly. Support for 4+ units including Miles per Gallon, Miles per Gallon (UK), Kilometers per Liter. with formula and table.

⛽ Fuel Economy Converter

Select your units from the lists below

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From Unit

Miles per Gallon
Symbol: mpg

Miles per Gallon (UK)
Symbol: mpg (UK)

Kilometers per Liter
Symbol: km/L

Liters per 100 km
Symbol: L/100km

To Unit

Miles per Gallon
Symbol: mpg

Miles per Gallon (UK)
Symbol: mpg (UK)

Kilometers per Liter
Symbol: km/L

Liters per 100 km
Symbol: L/100km

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⛽ Fuel Economy Converter

Fuel economy measurements appear in automotive efficiency, transportation planning, and environmental impact assessment. Convert between miles per gallon, liters per 100 kilometers, kilometers per liter, and other fuel economy units instantly. Whether you're comparing vehicle efficiency, planning trips, or analyzing fuel consumption, our converter handles the calculations.

⛽ About Fuel Economy

Fuel economy measures how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel—the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed or the fuel consumed per unit distance. The most common units are miles per gallon (MPG) in the United States and liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) in most metric countries. From automotive design and transportation policy to environmental sustainability, fuel economy measurements are used everywhere. Different regions use different units. The United States uses miles per gallon, while most countries use liters per 100 kilometers or kilometers per liter. Working with all these units helps with comparing vehicles internationally, understanding fuel efficiency standards, and making informed transportation decisions.

Understanding Fuel Economy Measurement

Fuel economy is a measure of how efficiently a vehicle converts fuel into distance traveled. It can be expressed as distance per unit of fuel (miles per gallon, kilometers per liter) or fuel per unit distance (liters per 100 kilometers). Unlike many physical quantities, fuel economy has no single SI unit, as it combines distance and volume measurements. The relationship between these units is inverse: higher miles per gallon or kilometers per liter indicates better efficiency, while lower liters per 100 kilometers indicates better efficiency. This inverse relationship can cause confusion, as improving from 10 to 20 MPG saves more fuel than improving from 30 to 40 MPG, even though both represent a 10 MPG increase. The liters per 100 kilometers unit provides a linear relationship, making efficiency improvements more intuitive.

📜 History & Context

The history of fuel economy measurement dates back to the earliest automobiles, when drivers simply tracked how far they could travel on a tank of fuel. Early measurements were informal and varied by region, with no standardized testing procedures. The concept of "miles per gallon" emerged naturally in countries using imperial units, while metric countries developed units like liters per 100 kilometers. The modern era of fuel economy regulation began with the 1973 oil crisis, which led to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 in the United States. This legislation introduced Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, requiring automakers to meet minimum fuel economy targets measured in miles per gallon. In Europe, similar concerns led to fuel consumption regulations measured in liters per 100 kilometers, with standardized test cycles developed to ensure consistent measurement. Over time, testing procedures have evolved to better reflect real-world driving conditions. The United States developed multiple test cycles, while Europe adopted the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). As electric and hybrid vehicles became common, new units like MPGe (miles per gallon gasoline equivalent) were introduced to compare different energy sources on a common scale.

✨ Fun Facts

• In 1923, the average U.S. vehicle achieved about 14 miles per gallon, but efficiency actually declined to around 11.9 MPG by 1973, just before the oil crisis that triggered fuel economy regulations.
• The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 introduced the first U.S. fuel economy standards, leading to average efficiency doubling from about 13.5 MPG to 27.5 MPG between 1975 and 1985.
• The Avion prototype car achieved over 119 miles per gallon in real-world driving conditions, demonstrating the potential for extreme fuel efficiency through aerodynamic design and lightweight materials.
• Liters per 100 kilometers provides a linear relationship for efficiency improvements, making it easier to understand fuel savings compared to the non-linear miles per gallon scale.
• Hybrid vehicles like the first-generation Honda Insight achieved EPA ratings of 70 MPG highway, demonstrating how technology can dramatically improve fuel economy.

💡 Real-World Examples

• Vehicle comparison: Car buyers compare fuel economy ratings in different units depending on location. Converting between units helps with international vehicle comparisons and understanding efficiency differences.
• Trip planning: Travelers calculate fuel costs and consumption using various units. Converting between units helps with planning road trips and estimating expenses across different countries.
• Fleet management: Transportation companies monitor fuel economy in different units. Converting between units helps with fleet efficiency analysis and international operations.
• Environmental impact: Fuel economy data is used to calculate emissions and environmental impact. Converting between units helps with international reporting and carbon footprint analysis.
• Automotive engineering: Vehicle designers optimize fuel efficiency measured in various units. Converting between units helps with international standards and performance comparison.
• Regulatory compliance: Automakers must meet fuel economy standards in different units depending on market. Converting between units helps with global vehicle development and certification.
• Consumer education: Fuel economy labels display efficiency in different units by region. Converting between units helps with consumer understanding and informed purchasing decisions.
• Research and development: Automotive research measures fuel economy improvements in various units. Converting between units helps with international collaboration and technology development.

🔧 Common Applications

• Automotive industry: Vehicle design, testing, and marketing need accurate fuel economy measurements. Converting between units helps with international standards and consumer information.
• Transportation policy: Government regulations and fuel economy standards use different units by region. Converting between units helps with policy development and international coordination.
• Fleet management: Commercial transportation operations measure fuel efficiency in various units. Converting between units helps with cost analysis and efficiency optimization.
• Environmental assessment: Fuel economy data is used to calculate emissions and environmental impact. Converting between units helps with international reporting and sustainability analysis.
• Consumer information: Vehicle fuel economy labels and consumer guides use different units by region. Converting between units helps with informed purchasing decisions and efficiency comparison.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

+ How do I convert miles per gallon (MPG) to liters per 100 kilometers?

To convert MPG to liters per 100 km, divide 235.215 by the MPG value. For example, 30 MPG equals approximately 7.84 L/100km, and 50 MPG equals approximately 4.70 L/100km. Lower L/100km values indicate better fuel economy.

+ What is the difference between MPG and L/100km?

MPG (miles per gallon) measures distance traveled per unit of fuel, where higher values indicate better fuel economy. L/100km (liters per 100 kilometers) measures fuel consumed per unit of distance, where lower values indicate better fuel economy. They are inversely related.

+ How do I convert liters per 100 kilometers to miles per gallon?

To convert L/100km to MPG, divide 235.215 by the L/100km value. For example, 8 L/100km equals approximately 29.4 MPG, and 6 L/100km equals approximately 39.2 MPG.

+ What is good fuel economy in MPG vs L/100km?

Good fuel economy varies by vehicle type. For passenger cars, 30+ MPG (approximately 7.8 L/100km or less) is considered good, while 40+ MPG (approximately 5.9 L/100km or less) is excellent. Hybrid and electric vehicles achieve much higher efficiency.

+ How do I convert kilometers per liter to miles per gallon?

To convert km/L to MPG, multiply the km/L value by 2.35215. For example, 15 km/L equals approximately 35.3 MPG, and 20 km/L equals approximately 47.0 MPG.