There’s a lot of talk about how different features impact the driving range of EVs. For example, how much energy will an air conditioner use? But you may wonder how much it will drain your battery to simply idle. Whether you’re waiting in a school pick-up line or stuck in a massive traffic jam, how much of your driving range will you lose while you’re sitting there? Here’s how idling affects your electric car’s efficiency and how that compares to an internal combustion engine.

Energy consumption averages for electric vehicles

how fast does an idling ev burn through driving range?

EV charging | Getty Images

Consumers are accustomed to measuring the efficiency of a vehicle by the number of miles it can travel per gallon of gas or diesel used. But as more drivers transition to EVs, they have to get used to a new way of looking at efficiency.

The energy use of an EV is measured in how many kilowatt-hours are used per 100 miles traveled (kWh/100mi). You can find this average for a specific car on its EPA fuel economy sticker or in the owner’s manual.

??Reducing the number of crops grown for biofuels for petrol cars would free up enough food to feed around 3.5 million people.The UK government should focus on accelerating the switch to electric vehicles to cut transport emissions.➡️https://t.co/c7Zdkyx5ou
2/2 pic.twitter.com/S4DDFM4QZQ

— Green Alliance (@GreenAllianceUK) August 11, 2022

The federal Department of Energy also maintains a list of the efficiency of EVs on the market. It also shows the miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), which is how far a car can travel on 33.7 kWh, but many people find this measurement misleading. There are too many factors, including the fluctuating price of electricity, to make a direct comparison.

According to the Department of Energy website, EVs range in efficiency from 53.3 kWh/100 mi to 23.7 kWh/100 mi. Naturally, this measurement applies to vehicles moving down the road. But what about when an EV is idling?

How much energy does an idling electric vehicle use?

The biggest anxiety consumers have about electric vehicles: RANGE. What makes you most anxious about switching to electric? https://t.co/wLQgg2Bn5i #traveltips #electricvehicle #EV #electriccar #rangeanxiety pic.twitter.com/a6FR0sLVwp

— AAA Hoosier (@AAAhoosier) August 15, 2022

The average efficiency may tell you how much energy it takes to drive an EV, but it doesn’t mean you what it takes to sit still. If you’re stuck in a traffic jam that seems endless, how much of your driving range will you use?

The estimates for how much energy is used when idling vary. According to WCNC, an EV uses roughly 1 kWh to idle. However, EV owners on Reddit report that their cars use even less, with many claiming that theirs only use about 0.5 kWh. Wired reports that by their calculations, EVs use an average of just 0.26 kWh when in park.

Idling uses much more energy than other things you might use while you’re stuck in that traffic jam, such as the radio or charging your phone. But overall, it’s not a significant drain on the battery. However, two big exceptions to this rule are heating and air conditioning, both substantial energy users.

How does this compare to an internal combustion engine?

What Do You Save With Electric Vehicles During High Gas Prices? https://t.co/WNUdUnb1pw pic.twitter.com/Jq9tPMr5Be

— Boris.S.GómezÚzqueda (@BorisSGomezU) August 15, 2022

Clearly, idling doesn’t seem to make much of an impact on how much energy an EV has available. How does that compare to the energy use of a traditional internal combustion engine?

Nearly all the energy an EV uses propels the vehicle or powers the car’s features. However, a considerable amount of energy is wasted when an engine burns gas or diesel. As much as 80% of the energy is used just by producing exhaust and heat. This energy loss happens whether the vehicle is moving or just idling.

The small drain on an EV battery doesn’t compare with the high percentage of energy lost when burning gas or diesel. So if you drive an EV and get stuck in traffic, that’s one less thing you need to worry about.

Keyword: How Fast Does an Idling EV Burn Through Driving Range?

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Best cars for a 'Love Bug' remake

Tennessee’s Yard Art The Thorndyke Special The Hot Rod The Hippie Van Jim’s Lamborghini Growing up, it’s safe to say my absolute favorite movie was Disney’s “The Love Bug.” As a kid living in a world before Pixar’s “Cars,” it was pretty much the best car movie. I loved ...

View more: Best cars for a 'Love Bug' remake

Audi timing belt tensioner prompts Utah bomb squad visit

An aftermarket timing belt tensioner found in a Salt Lake City apartment prompted a visit from the bomb squad this week after it was mistaken for a potential explosive device. Police partially evacuated the apartment complex in which it was found “out of an abundance of caution” and called ...

View more: Audi timing belt tensioner prompts Utah bomb squad visit

2023 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 will get more expensive

GMC Sierra HD pickups are about to get more expensive again after recently becoming more expensive, according to GM Authority. In July, GMC and Buick raised the prices on certain vehicles in their lineups anywhere from $975 to $1,675 by making the previously optional OnStar a standard feature. Next ...

View more: 2023 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 will get more expensive

Our week with EVs: Recapping the diverse collection of electric cars we tested

Mercedes-Benz EQB First Drive Review: Next electric Benz is a little different 2022 Chevy Bolt EV Road Test Review: Time to play EV, gas or airplane 2023 Genesis GV60 Road Test Review: The third of Hyundai Group’s E-GMP EVs is the fastest, but softest It may be hard to ...

View more: Our week with EVs: Recapping the diverse collection of electric cars we tested

Europe car sales lowest since 1996 after 12-month decline

BERLIN – Europe registered the lowest number of new passenger cars in the month of June this year since 1996 at just over 1.06 million vehicles, with some carmakers seeing sales drop by nearly 50%, data from Europe’s automobile association showed on Friday. Volkswagen Group was the hardest-hit major ...

View more: Europe car sales lowest since 1996 after 12-month decline

More Than Just A Carmaker: Toyota Motor PH Launches Toyota Mobility Solutions

Automotive industry leader, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) inaugurated today Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, Inc. (TMSPH), a wholly owned subsidiary that will be a provider of mobility-related services. TMSPH ventures into the development and offering of a range of ‘new mobility solutions’ that will enhance Toyota as a brand ...

View more: More Than Just A Carmaker: Toyota Motor PH Launches Toyota Mobility Solutions

'F1 22' feels fast and familiar | Gaming Roundup

‘F1 22’ impressions ‘Construction Simulator’ is launching Sept. 20 Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. This week in racing game news: ‘F1 22’ impressions At its core, “F1 22,” the latest installment in the F1 ...

View more: 'F1 22' feels fast and familiar | Gaming Roundup

Watch a single-engine plane crash-land on 91 Freeway in California

A single-engine Piper Cherokee airplane was forced to crash land on the 91 Freeway in California after losing power about 45 minutes outside of Los Angeles. Yes, that means this was a very busy highway, practically bursting at the seams with traffic. No, amazingly nobody died, either in the ...

View more: Watch a single-engine plane crash-land on 91 Freeway in California

Ford files 'Mustang Dark Horse' trademark application

Make adventures more comfortable with high-quality Jeep grab handles

New Lucid Air variant to debut & Stealth Look to be on display during Monetary Car Week

Chevy offers incentives to prevent Corvette Z06 flipping

Average U.S. gas price falls below $4/gallon

German court: SUV driver must pay more than a car for running red light

Australian vehicle crash tests to include underwater performance

Toyota C-HR rumored to get revamp next year and an EV version

Geely's electric Zeekr 009 is an EV Alphard we never had; 700 km, 542 PS, top speed 190 km/h

A Newey, Brawn and Anderson row that shows F1 doesn’t change

Sorry, EV buyers, you won't get to pick your own pedestrian safety sounds

There won't be enough copper to meet climate goals, study indicates

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel