They are efficien with the electricity they receive, but does that take account of the efficiency to produce that electricity? They produce some of their own electricity and take at least 15% from the grid.
The earlier quoted efficiency of 88% is the overall internal efficiency for all products. What is the efficiency of producing gasoline and diesel? Here is one rough figure:
"U.S. refineries produce about 19 gallons of motor gasoline, 12 gallons of ultra-low sulfur distillate fuel, most of which is sold as diesel fuel, and 4 gallons of jet fuel from a 42 gallon barrel of crude oil."
http://www.eia.gov/Energyexplained/i...e=oil_refining
That does not take into account the barrels burned to deliver the fuel, or the efficiency of the electricity to produce it, and yet they still only get only 74% of motor vehicle fuels from each barrel of oil. I still maintain burning crude at a power plant to power electric vehicles is more efficient than to refine it for motor vehicles.
New info, we can use the more efficient way of generating electricity from oil, 75% replacing the earlier 34% figure putting electric vehicle efficiency from crude oil way in front.
http://www.exxonmobil.co.uk/UK-Engli...ng_fawley.aspx