Miles per gallon (MPG) and liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) are different ways to measure a vehicle’s fuel economy. You’ll often see MPG in the United States, whereas L/100km is common in Europe and many other countries.
Understanding both MPG and L/100km is useful when you are trying to compare the fuel efficiency of cars sold internationally. This article will explain how to convert between these two units and will provide tools to make the conversion easy.
Understanding Miles Per Gallon (MPG)
MPG, or miles per gallon, tells you how far a car can travel on one gallon of gasoline.
You can calculate MPG by dividing the number of miles you’ve driven by the number of gallons of gas you used to drive that far. For example, if you drove 300 miles and used 10 gallons of gas, your MPG would be 30.
The higher the MPG, the better your fuel economy. This article will focus on US MPG, but it’s worth noting that Imperial MPG is a different calculation.
Understanding Liters per 100 Kilometers (L/100km)
Liters per 100 kilometers (L/100km) is a common way to measure fuel consumption, especially outside the United States. It tells you how many liters of fuel a car needs to travel 100 kilometers.
To calculate L/100km, you divide the number of liters of fuel used by the number of kilometers traveled, and then multiply the result by 100.
Unlike miles per gallon, a lower L/100km number is better. It means the car uses less fuel to travel the same distance.
Converting MPG to L/100km
Want to convert miles per gallon to liters per 100 kilometers? Here’s the formula you’ll need:
L/100km = 235.2145 / MPG (US)
That number, 235.2145, might look a little random, but it’s derived from the mathematical relationships between miles, kilometers, U.S. gallons, and liters.
To convert from liters per 100km back to miles per gallon, just reverse the formula:
MPG (US) = 235.2145 / L/100km
See? The constant stays the same. Just switch the numerator and denominator.
MPG to L/100km: Examples
Want to see this in action? Here’s a couple of examples of how to convert between these two measurements:
- MPG to L/100km: Let’s say your car gets 30 MPG. To convert that, you’d do the following calculation: 235.2145 / 30 = 7.84 L/100km
- L/100km to MPG: Now, let’s say a different car is rated at 8 L/100km. The conversion looks like this: 235.2145 / 8 = 29.40 MPG
These conversions are helpful when you’re trying to compare the fuel efficiency of different vehicles, especially if they use different measurement systems.
Conversion Tables: A Quick Reference Guide
Sometimes you just need a quick answer without having to do the math yourself. That’s where a conversion table comes in handy. Here’s a short one to get you started:
| MPG (Miles Per Gallon) | L/100km (Liters per 100 Kilometers) |
|---|---|
| 20 MPG | 11.76 L/100km |
| 25 MPG | 9.41 L/100km |
| 30 MPG | 7.84 L/100km |
| 35 MPG | 6.72 L/100km |
| 40 MPG | 5.88 L/100km |
Whether you’re a driver trying to compare fuel efficiency or a researcher analyzing vehicle data, this table offers a fast reference. For more detailed tables, a quick search online will turn up plenty of options.
What affects fuel consumption?
Keep in mind that any MPG or L/100km figure is really just an estimate. Several things affect how much fuel a car uses, including:
- How you drive (do you speed and accelerate aggressively?)
- How well you maintain your car (are your tires properly inflated, and is your engine in good condition?)
- The road you’re driving on (are there hills, and is there a lot of traffic?)
- The weather (is it cold or windy?)
Putting It All Together
Understanding the relationship between MPG and L/100km is crucial if you want to compare fuel efficiency across different vehicles and countries. Now that you know how to use the conversion formula and tables, you can feel confident when comparing fuel consumption and making informed decisions about your next vehicle purchase.