Comparative analysis of the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of 40 electric, plug-in hybrid electric, hybrid electric and internal combustion engine vehicles

• The real-world energy consumption of 40 low carbon vehicles is compared.
• The greater the electrification, the lower the vehicle’s energy consumption.
• The fraction of total driving time spent on the accelerator as a measure of driving behaviour is introduced.
• Regenerative braking can save up to 32% of energy consumed per unit distance.

This paper analyses the results of the Royal Automobile Clubhallo’s 2011 RAC Future Car Challenge, an annual motoring challenge in which participants seek to consume the least energy possible while driving a 92 km route from Brighton to London in the UK. The results reveal that the vehicle’s power train type has the largest impact on energy consumption and emissions. The traction ratio, defined as the fraction of time spent on the accelerator in relation to the driving time, and the amount of regenerative braking have a significant effect on the individual energy consumption of vehicles. In contrast, the average speed does not have a great effect on a vehicles’ energy consumption in the range 25–70 km/h.