Basics · Chapter 2 of 9

kWh, explained

Battery size is your fuel tank - how to read it.

Step 1 of 3

kWh is the size of your battery

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is just a unit of stored energy. On an EV it's the single most useful number: it tells you how big the "tank" is. A city scooter might carry 2-4 kWh; a family car 40-55 kWh. Drag the slider to feel the difference:

3.7 kWh is a scooter-sized pack — roughly 130 km of real-world range. Illustrative; actual range depends on the vehicle.

Quick checkA bigger kWh number usually means...

Step 2 of 3

Why kWh doesn't equal range

Two EVs with the same kWh can go different distances. Range depends on how efficiently the vehicle turns energy into motion — its weight, aerodynamics, your speed, terrain, even the weather. Efficiency is measured in km per kWh: a light scooter may do 35+ km/kWh, a heavier car around 6.

Quick checkWhat turns battery size into actual distance?

Step 3 of 3

Putting it together

Rough range ≈ battery size (kWh) × efficiency (km per kWh). It's an estimate, not a promise — but it's a far better guide than the brochure's single big number, which we tackle next.

Quick checkTwo EVs both have a 4 kWh battery. Can they have different ranges?

You learned

  • kWh = battery size (your fuel tank).
  • Range ≈ kWh × km-per-kWh efficiency.
  • Compare EVs on real-world km/kWh, not just kWh.
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