When you start shopping for a plug-in hybrid (or an electric car), you’ll begin to notice a new term: MPGe, which stands for “miles per gallon equivalent.” The term represents an attempt to create an even comparison for shoppers considering whether to buy a car that plugs in or a conventional car that just runs on gasoline. In most cases, MPGe refers to when a car is running on electricity, while the Environmental Protection Agency provides an MPG (without the e) rating for when the car is using gasoline. In some instances, the EPA’s MPGe number includes a little help from the gas engine, but let’s not split hairs. The main point: When it comes to plug-in hybrids, MPGe is unfortunately not that helpful.
