Stephen C. Gallagher asked in USMA 11897:
>I've usually not seen the measurement of km/L when
>measuring the efficiency of automobiles. More often,
>the term that I've seen is L/100 km.
>
>Is km/L used in any other countries where SI is the rule?
In 1976 the Canadian Metric Association carried an international survey of
metric usage. In partcular, the question on units used for fuel
consumption elicited the following responses.
There are two main units in metric countries for this purpose: km/L, with
which a larger number is desirable; and L/100 km, with which the smaller
number indicates better fuel economy.
Our International Survey of Metric Practice (Question 11.4) showed
the following distribution:
Europe L/100 km is used by the majority, in at least 17 countries, .
.. including Belgium, Finland, France, West Germany, Spain, Switzerland,
and all of Eastern Europe.
Exceptions: km/L in Denmark, the Netherlands, and partially in ..
.. Italy; 10
km/L in Norway;and L/10 km in Sweden
Africa L/100 km used in vast majority of metric countries (at least 10 ..
... nations), including South Africa and Zaire.
Exceptions: km/L in Egypt and (along with mpg) in Uganda: mpg still
... used in Malawi and Sudan, etc.
Asia km/L predominant, in 9 countries, and partially in Malaysia and ...
.... Nepal.
L/100 km in Iran, and partially in Kuwait and Singapore; km/20 L in
... Syria; most other countries still use mpg.
Oceania Australia and New Zealand use predominantly L/100 km: km/L used ..
.... only in Fiji; mpg in other areas.
South America km/L predominant, in 6 countries, and in Uruguay alongside
km/20 L; Peru uses the strange km/gal!
Central America km/L in Costa Rica and Mexico; km/gal in Cuba, Guatemala,
Hondusras, and El Salvador; former British colonies still use mpg.
Summary L/100 km predominates in Europe, Africa, and Oceania; it is used
... in at least 32 countries.
km/L predominates in Asia and South America, in 26 nations.
Albert J. Mettler
Joseph B. Reid
17 Glebe Road West
Toronto M5P 1C8 Tel. 416 486-6071
