Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt Converter
Convert kilowatt-hours to electronvolts with our free online energy converter.
Quick Answer
1 Kilowatt-hour = 2.246943e+25 electronvolts
Formula: Kilowatt-hour × conversion factor = Electronvolt
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt Calculator
How to Use the Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilowatt-hour).
- The converted value in Electronvolt will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Energy category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
eV = kWh × 2.24694e+25Example Calculation:
1 kWh = 2.246943e+25 eV
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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Need to convert to other energy units?
View all Energy conversions →What is a Kilowatt-hour and a Electronvolt?
and Standards
The kilowatt-hour is defined as the energy equivalent of one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power sustained for one hour:
1 kWh = 1,000 W × 1 hour = 3,600,000 joules = 3.6 megajoules
Precise Equivalents
- 1 kWh = 3,600,000 J (exactly)
- 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ (exactly)
- 1 kWh = 1.341 horsepower-hours (mechanical)
- 1 kWh = 859.845 kilocalories (thermochemical)
- 1 kWh = 3,412.14 British thermal units (BTU)
- 1 kWh = 2.655 × 10²² electronvolts
The kilowatt-hour is not an SI unit (the SI unit of energy is the joule), but it is explicitly accepted for use alongside SI units by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) due to its universal adoption in electrical energy metering and commerce.
Power vs. Energy: The Critical Distinction
Kilowatt (kW) measures power—the rate at which energy is being used or generated at a specific moment (analogous to speed on a speedometer).
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures energy—the total amount of energy used or generated over time (analogous to distance traveled on an odometer).
Relationship: Energy (kWh) = Power (kW) × Time (hours)
Example: A 2 kW space heater running for 3 hours consumes 2 kW × 3 h = 6 kWh of energy.
The electronvolt (symbol: eV) is a unit of energy defined as the amount of kinetic energy gained (or lost) by a single electron when it moves through an electric potential difference of exactly one volt in vacuum.
Fundamental Definition
Mathematical Expression:
1 eV = e × 1 V
Where:
- e = elementary charge = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs (exact, since 2019 SI redefinition)
- V = volt (SI unit of electric potential)
Since 1 volt = 1 joule per coulomb (J/C), we have:
1 eV = (1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C) × (1 J/C) = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ J
This value is now exact by definition following the 2019 SI redefinition.
Physical Interpretation
Imagine a single electron starting at rest:
- Place electron at negative terminal of a 1-volt battery
- Let electron accelerate to the positive terminal through the electric field
- Kinetic energy gained by the electron = 1 electronvolt
The electron's final velocity would be approximately 593 km/s (ignoring relativistic effects), with kinetic energy:
KE = ½mv² = 1 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J
Common Prefixes and Multiples
Standard SI Prefixes:
- meV (millielectronvolt) = 10⁻³ eV = 1.602 × 10⁻²² J (thermal energies, superconducting gaps)
- eV (electronvolt) = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J (atomic physics, visible light)
- keV (kiloelectronvolt) = 10³ eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁶ J (X-rays, inner electrons)
- MeV (megaelectronvolt) = 10⁶ eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹³ J (nuclear physics, gamma rays)
- GeV (gigaelectronvolt) = 10⁹ eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁰ J (particle accelerators, rest masses)
- TeV (teraelectronvolt) = 10¹² eV = 1.602 × 10⁻⁷ J (LHC, highest-energy physics)
- PeV (petaelectronvolt) = 10¹⁵ eV = 0.1602 J (cosmic rays, ultra-high-energy astrophysics)
Electronvolt as Unit of Mass (E=mc²)
Through Einstein's mass-energy equivalence E = mc², the electronvolt can express mass:
Mass Unit: eV/c² (electronvolt divided by speed of light squared)
Conversion:
1 eV/c² = 1.782661921 × 10⁻³⁶ kg
Examples:
- Electron mass: me = 510.9989 keV/c² = 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kg
- Proton mass: mp = 938.2720 MeV/c² = 1.673 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
- Neutron mass: mn = 939.5654 MeV/c² = 1.675 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
- Higgs boson mass: mH ≈ 125 GeV/c² (discovered 2012, CERN LHC)
Particle physicists routinely express masses in MeV/c² or GeV/c², often abbreviated to just MeV or GeV when context is clear.
Note: The Kilowatt-hour is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Electronvolt belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Kilowatt-hour and Electronvolt
and Evolution
The Birth of Electrical Metering (1880s-1890s)
The kilowatt-hour emerged from the practical needs of early electrical utilities. When Thomas Edison opened the Pearl Street Station in Manhattan in September 1882—the world's first commercial central power plant—he needed a way to bill customers for electricity consumption. Early meters measured current flow, but this didn't account for voltage or time, making fair billing difficult.
The breakthrough came with the development of the induction watt-hour meter by Oliver B. Shallenberger in 1888, working for Westinghouse. This electromechanical device used electromagnetic induction to rotate a disc at a speed proportional to power consumption, with the total rotations indicating energy consumed—directly measuring kilowatt-hours. This meter design, refined but fundamentally unchanged, remained the global standard for over a century until the recent transition to digital smart meters.
Standardization and the International Electrical Congress (1893)
The International Electrical Congress held during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago formally adopted standardized electrical units. While the joule was recognized as the scientific unit of energy, the kilowatt-hour was established as the practical unit for electrical power distribution and billing. This dual system—joules in science, kilowatt-hours in commerce—continues today.
Samuel Insull and Modern Utility Economics (1890s-1920s)
Samuel Insull, president of Chicago Edison Company (later Commonwealth Edison), revolutionized the electricity industry in the 1890s by implementing sophisticated pricing structures based on kilowatt-hour consumption. Insull pioneered:
- Load factor optimization: Encouraging off-peak usage through lower kWh rates
- Declining block rates: Lower per-kWh prices for higher consumption, incentivizing electrification
- Demand charges: Separate charges for peak power demand (kW) versus energy consumption (kWh) for industrial customers
Insull's innovations made electricity affordable for middle-class households, transforming it from a luxury to a necessity and accelerating the electrification of America and the world.
The Electrification Revolution (1920s-1960s)
By the 1920s, the kilowatt-hour had become universal for electricity billing in industrialized nations. Rural electrification programs—such as the U.S. Rural Electrification Administration (1935)—brought kilowatt-hour metering to millions of farms and small towns. Post-World War II economic growth drove massive increases in electrical consumption, measured everywhere in kilowatt-hours.
Modern Era: Smart Meters and Real-Time kWh (2000s-Present)
The 21st century brought smart meters that measure kilowatt-hour consumption digitally, often in 15-minute or hourly intervals. These enable:
- Time-of-use (TOU) pricing: Different per-kWh rates based on time of day
- Real-time monitoring: Customers can track kWh usage in real time via apps
- Demand response: Automated load reduction during peak demand
- Net metering: Bidirectional kWh measurement for solar panel owners
Today, kilowatt-hours are also the standard unit for electric vehicle battery capacity, solar panel production, energy efficiency ratings, and carbon footprint calculations tied to electricity consumption.
The electronvolt's development parallels the history of atomic and nuclear physics in the early 20th century.
Pre-History: Early Electron Research (1897-1920s)
1897: J.J. Thomson discovers the electron using cathode ray tubes, observing electrons accelerated through electric potentials of hundreds of volts.
1909-1913: Robert Millikan's oil drop experiment precisely measures the elementary charge: e ≈ 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C.
1913: Niels Bohr's model of the hydrogen atom calculates ionization energy as 13.6 eV (though he expressed it in ergs or joules).
1920s: Early atomic spectroscopy and quantum mechanics developments naturally worked with energies on the eV scale, though researchers still used CGS units (ergs) or SI joules.
Formalization (1930s-1940s)
Early 1930s: The term "electronvolt" begins appearing in physics literature as particle accelerators (cyclotrons, Van de Graaff generators) accelerate particles through kilovolt and megavolt potentials.
Key Motivation:
- Expressing X-ray energies: 10-100 keV far more intuitive than 10⁻¹⁵ to 10⁻¹⁴ J
- Nuclear reaction energies: Alpha particles with 5 MeV vs. 8 × 10⁻¹³ J
- Particle accelerator beam energies: 1 MeV proton beam vs. 1.6 × 10⁻¹³ J
1932: Carl Anderson discovers the positron (antimatter electron) in cosmic rays, with energies described in MeV.
1930s-1940s: Manhattan Project and nuclear weapons research standardized MeV for nuclear fission and fusion energies.
Post-War Standardization (1950s-1960s)
1948: 9th CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures) defines the ampere, indirectly fixing the volt and thus the electronvolt's joule equivalent.
1950s-1960s: Particle physics accelerators (synchrotrons, bevatrons) reach GeV energies:
- Brookhaven Cosmotron (1952): 3 GeV
- Berkeley Bevatron (1954): 6 GeV (first antiproton production)
- CERN Proton Synchrotron (1959): 28 GeV
Standard Practice: By the 1960s, eV/keV/MeV/GeV were universally adopted in atomic, nuclear, and particle physics.
Modern Era (1970s-Present)
1970s-1980s: TeV-scale energies anticipated and achieved:
- Fermilab Tevatron (1983): 1.96 TeV proton-antiproton collisions
2008-Present: CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC):
- Design energy: 14 TeV (7 TeV per beam)
- Higgs boson discovery (2012): 125 GeV/c² mass
- Current: 13.6 TeV collision energy (2022-2025 Run 3)
2019 SI Redefinition:
- Elementary charge e defined exactly: 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ C
- Makes 1 eV = 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹ J exact by definition
- Electronvolt recognized in SI Brochure as accepted non-SI unit
Beyond Accelerators:
- Semiconductor physics: Band gaps measured in eV (Si: 1.1 eV, GaN: 3.4 eV)
- Photovoltaics: Solar cell efficiency tied to band gap energies (1.1-1.7 eV optimal)
- Astronomy: Cosmic ray energies up to 10²⁰ eV (Oh-My-God particle, 1991)
Common Uses and Applications: kilowatt-hours vs electronvolts
Explore the typical applications for both Kilowatt-hour (imperial/US) and Electronvolt (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for kilowatt-hours
1. Electricity Billing (Residential, Commercial, Industrial)
The kilowatt-hour is the universal unit for billing electrical energy consumption worldwide. Your electric utility meter tracks cumulative kilowatt-hours, and your monthly bill reflects the total kWh consumed multiplied by your rate structure.
Typical billing components:
- Energy charge: $0.08-0.35 per kWh (varies by location and utility)
- Delivery/distribution charge: Often a separate per-kWh fee
- Fixed charges: Monthly connection fees independent of kWh
- Demand charges (commercial/industrial): Based on peak kW demand
Example bill calculation (900 kWh residential):
- Energy: 900 kWh × $0.12 = $108.00
- Delivery: 900 kWh × $0.04 = $36.00
- Fixed charge: $10.00
- Total: $154.00
2. Appliance Energy Efficiency Ratings
EnergyGuide labels in the US and Canada display estimated annual kilowatt-hour consumption:
- Refrigerators: 300-700 kWh/year
- Dishwashers: 200-400 kWh/year
- Washing machines: 150-500 kWh/year
Energy Star certification requires appliances to use fewer kWh than standard models, typically 10-50% more efficient.
3. Electric Vehicle Specifications
EV manufacturers specify battery capacity in kilowatt-hours, directly comparable across all brands:
- Small battery: 40-50 kWh (city cars, ~150-200 miles)
- Medium battery: 60-75 kWh (mainstream EVs, ~250-300 miles)
- Large battery: 85-100 kWh (luxury/performance EVs, ~350-400 miles)
- Truck/SUV battery: 100-200+ kWh (heavy vehicles, towing capability)
Efficiency metric: Miles per kWh (analogous to miles per gallon for gasoline vehicles)
4. Solar and Renewable Energy Production
Solar installers and monitoring systems display production in kilowatt-hours:
- Real-time production: "Currently generating 4.2 kW"
- Daily total: "Produced 28 kWh today"
- Lifetime total: "System has produced 47,500 kWh since installation"
Net metering: Bidirectional meters track both kWh consumed from the grid and kWh exported to the grid, with the difference billed (or credited) monthly.
5. Carbon Footprint Calculations
Carbon emissions from electricity are calculated using kilowatt-hour consumption multiplied by regional grid intensity:
Grid carbon intensity (kg CO₂ per kWh):
- Coal-heavy grid: 0.8-1.0 kg CO₂/kWh (e.g., Wyoming, West Virginia)
- US average: ~0.4 kg CO₂/kWh
- Natural gas grid: 0.4-0.5 kg CO₂/kWh
- Renewable-heavy grid: 0.02-0.1 kg CO₂/kWh (e.g., Iceland, Norway, Quebec)
Example: 900 kWh monthly consumption × 0.4 kg CO₂/kWh = 360 kg CO₂ = 0.36 metric tons CO₂ per month
6. Battery Storage Systems (Home and Grid)
Home battery storage (e.g., Tesla Powerwall) and grid-scale battery systems specify capacity in kilowatt-hours:
- Tesla Powerwall 2: 13.5 kWh usable capacity
- LG Chem RESU: 9.8-16 kWh
- Sonnen eco: 5-15 kWh (modular)
Backup capability: A 13.5 kWh battery can power essential loads (refrigerator, lights, WiFi, phone charging) for 1-2 days during an outage.
When to Use electronvolts
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Scientists use eV to describe:
- Ionization energies: Energy required to remove electrons from atoms
- Electron affinity: Energy released when electron attaches to atom
- Molecular orbital energies: HOMO-LUMO gaps, band structures
- Spectroscopy: Photon energies in UV-vis spectroscopy (200-800 nm ≈ 6-1.5 eV)
Example: UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measures electron binding energies from 0-50 eV.
Nuclear and Particle Physics
The electronvolt (especially MeV, GeV, TeV) is the universal energy unit:
Particle Accelerators:
- Beam energies: "The LHC collides protons at 6.8 TeV per beam"
- Collision center-of-mass energy: √s = 13.6 TeV
Nuclear Reactions:
- Q-values: Energy released/absorbed (e.g., D-T fusion Q = 17.6 MeV)
- Decay energies: Alpha, beta, gamma emissions
Particle Properties:
- Rest masses: Particle Data Group lists masses in MeV/c² or GeV/c²
- Decay channels: Energy distributions of decay products
Semiconductor Device Physics
Band gap energies determine electronic and optical properties:
Applications:
- Solar cells: Optimal band gap ~1.3-1.5 eV for maximum efficiency under solar spectrum
- LEDs: Emission color determined by band gap (red ~1.8 eV, blue ~3.1 eV)
- Transistors: Threshold voltages and switching energies
- Detectors: Ionization energies for particle detection (Si: 3.6 eV per electron-hole pair)
Radiation Dosimetry and Medical Physics
X-ray and gamma-ray energies specified in keV or MeV:
Medical Imaging:
- Mammography: 25-35 keV (soft tissue contrast)
- CT scans: 80-140 keV
- PET scans: 511 keV (positron-electron annihilation photons)
Radiation Therapy:
- External beam: 6-18 MeV photon beams
- Proton therapy: 70-250 MeV proton beams
Astrophysics and Cosmology
Photon energies across the electromagnetic spectrum:
Radio to Infrared: μeV to eV (microwave background ~0.0002 eV) Visible: 1.8-3.1 eV X-ray: keV to MeV (neutron star accretion, supernovae) Gamma-ray: MeV to GeV (active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts) Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays: EeV (10¹⁸ eV) and beyond
Example: Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detects photons from 20 MeV to >300 GeV.
Materials Science and Catalysis
Surface science and chemical reactions:
Techniques:
- XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy): Binding energies 0-1500 eV
- UPS (UV Photoelectron Spectroscopy): Valence band energies 0-50 eV
- Auger Electron Spectroscopy: Electron energies 50-2000 eV
Catalysis:
- Activation barriers: 0.1-3 eV for chemical reactions
- Adsorption energies: 0.5-5 eV for molecules on surfaces
Additional Unit Information
About Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
How much does 1 kWh of electricity cost?
Electricity rates vary widely by location, utility, rate structure, and time of day:
US average (2024): $0.13-0.16 per kWh (residential)
By state (residential, wide variation):
- Lowest: Louisiana (~$0.09/kWh), Oklahoma (~$0.10/kWh), Arkansas (~$0.10/kWh)
- Highest: Hawaii (~$0.40/kWh), California (~$0.25-0.35/kWh), Massachusetts (~$0.24/kWh)
- Typical ranges: Most states $0.10-0.18/kWh
International comparison:
- Denmark: ~$0.40/kWh (highest in developed world)
- Germany: ~$0.35/kWh
- UK: ~$0.25-0.30/kWh (£0.20-0.24/kWh)
- Canada: ~$0.08-0.12/kWh (varies by province)
- China: ~$0.08/kWh (residential)
Commercial rates are typically 20-40% lower than residential ($0.08-0.12/kWh in US), while industrial rates are often 40-60% lower ($0.05-0.08/kWh) due to higher volumes and lower distribution costs.
Time-of-use (TOU) rates vary by time:
- Off-peak (midnight-6am): $0.08-0.12/kWh
- Mid-peak (daytime): $0.12-0.18/kWh
- On-peak (5-9pm): $0.20-0.40/kWh
What is the difference between kW and kWh?
This is one of the most common sources of confusion in electricity:
Kilowatt (kW) measures POWER—the rate of energy use or generation at a specific instant.
- Analogous to: Speed (miles per hour on speedometer)
- Measures: How fast energy is being used right now
- Example: "My air conditioner is currently drawing 3.5 kW"
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures ENERGY—the total amount of energy used or generated over time.
- Analogous to: Distance (total miles traveled on odometer)
- Measures: How much energy was used over a period
- Example: "My air conditioner used 28 kWh today (3.5 kW × 8 hours)"
Relationship: Energy (kWh) = Power (kW) × Time (hours)
Another analogy: Think of filling a bathtub:
- kW = flow rate (gallons per minute from faucet)
- kWh = total water (total gallons in tub)
- Fast flow × short time = Slow flow × long time = same total water
Billing distinction: You're billed for energy (kWh), not power (kW)—except for commercial "demand charges" based on peak kW.
How many kWh does an average home use per day?
US average: ~30 kWh per day (~900 kWh per month, ~10,800 kWh per year)
Breakdown by category (typical US home):
- Heating/cooling: 40-45% (~12-14 kWh/day)
- Water heating: 14-18% (~4-5 kWh/day)
- Appliances: 25-30% (~8-9 kWh/day)
- Lighting: 6-10% (~2-3 kWh/day)
- Electronics: 5-8% (~2 kWh/day)
Variation by home type:
- Apartment (500-800 sq ft): 15-20 kWh/day
- Small house (1,000-1,500 sq ft): 20-25 kWh/day
- Medium house (1,500-2,500 sq ft): 25-35 kWh/day
- Large house (2,500-4,000 sq ft): 35-50 kWh/day
- Very large home (4,000+ sq ft): 50-100+ kWh/day
Seasonal variation:
- Winter (heating climate): 30-50 kWh/day
- Spring/Fall: 20-30 kWh/day
- Summer (cooling climate): 35-60 kWh/day
Geographic variation (US average by region):
- South (Louisiana, Texas, Florida): 35-45 kWh/day (high AC usage)
- West (California, Oregon): 20-30 kWh/day (mild climate)
- Northeast (New York, Massachusetts): 25-30 kWh/day
- Midwest (Illinois, Ohio): 28-35 kWh/day
How do I calculate my appliance's kWh usage?
Formula: kWh = (Watts ÷ 1,000) × Hours of use
Step-by-step:
- Find wattage: Check appliance label or manual (or use a Kill-A-Watt meter)
- Convert to kilowatts: Divide watts by 1,000
- Multiply by hours: Total hours of operation
- Result is kWh: Total energy consumed
Example 1 (Simple continuous use):
- 60-watt light bulb
- Used 5 hours per day
- kWh per day = (60 ÷ 1,000) × 5 = 0.06 × 5 = 0.3 kWh
- Monthly = 0.3 × 30 = 9 kWh
- Cost = 9 kWh × $0.15 = $1.35 per month
Example 2 (Cycling appliance):
- Refrigerator with 150-watt compressor
- Runs ~8 hours per day (33% duty cycle)
- kWh per day = (150 ÷ 1,000) × 8 = 0.15 × 8 = 1.2 kWh
- Yearly = 1.2 × 365 = 438 kWh
- Cost = 438 kWh × $0.15 = $65.70 per year
Example 3 (High-power short duration):
- Electric oven, 3,000 watts
- Used 1 hour per day
- kWh per day = (3,000 ÷ 1,000) × 1 = 3 kWh
- Monthly = 3 × 30 = 90 kWh
- Cost = 90 kWh × $0.15 = $13.50 per month
Tip: For cycling appliances (refrigerators, AC, heaters), check EnergyGuide labels for actual annual kWh rather than calculating from power ratings.
How many kWh does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
Charging kWh depends on battery size and state of charge:
Formula: kWh needed = Battery capacity (kWh) × (% to charge ÷ 100) ÷ Charging efficiency
Charging efficiency: ~85-95% (some energy lost to heat)
Example 1 (Typical daily charging):
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range (82 kWh battery)
- Daily driving uses 40% of battery (33 kWh)
- Charging efficiency: 90%
- kWh from wall = 33 ÷ 0.90 = 36.7 kWh
- Cost at $0.15/kWh = $5.50 per charge
Example 2 (Empty to full):
- Nissan Leaf (62 kWh battery)
- Charging from 10% to 100% (90% of capacity)
- kWh needed = 62 × 0.90 = 55.8 kWh
- With 90% efficiency = 55.8 ÷ 0.90 = 62 kWh
- Cost at $0.12/kWh = $7.44 full charge
Charging levels:
- Level 1 (120V, 12A): ~1.4 kW → ~1.4 kWh per hour (very slow)
- Level 2 (240V, 32A): ~7.7 kW → ~7.7 kWh per hour (home charging)
- DC Fast Charging: 50-350 kW → 50-350 kWh per hour (public fast charging)
Annual EV consumption (typical):
- 12,000 miles per year ÷ 4 miles per kWh = 3,000 kWh per year
- Cost at $0.15/kWh = $450 per year
- Gasoline equivalent (25 MPG, $3.50/gal): 480 gallons = $1,680 per year
- Savings: ~$1,200 per year
How many kilowatt-hours are in a gallon of gasoline?
Gasoline contains approximately 33.7 kWh of chemical energy per gallon (based on lower heating value).
However, internal combustion engines are only 20-30% efficient at converting this to mechanical work, while electric motors are 85-95% efficient.
Effective comparison:
- 1 gallon gasoline = 33.7 kWh chemical energy
- Usable mechanical energy = 33.7 × 0.25 (avg efficiency) = 8.4 kWh
- Electric vehicle uses 8.4 kWh directly from battery = equivalent to ~1 gallon gasoline
Example: A 25 MPG gas car vs. 4 miles/kWh EV:
- Gas car: 100 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 4 gallons = 134.8 kWh chemical energy (33.7 usable)
- EV: 100 miles ÷ 4 mi/kWh = 25 kWh from battery
- Efficiency advantage: EV uses ~25% of the energy (25 kWh vs. 100 kWh delivered fuel)
Cost comparison (at $3.50/gal gasoline, $0.15/kWh electricity):
- Gas: 4 gallons × $3.50 = $14.00 per 100 miles
- Electric: 25 kWh × $0.15 = $3.75 per 100 miles
- Savings: $10.25 per 100 miles, or ~73% cheaper
What is a megawatt-hour (MWh) or gigawatt-hour (GWh)?
These are larger units used for industrial, utility, and national-scale energy:
Megawatt-hour (MWh): 1 MWh = 1,000 kWh
- Scale: Enough for ~1.5 months of average US household consumption
- Uses: Large commercial buildings, small industrial facilities, utility contracts
- Example: A small office building might use 50-100 MWh per month
Gigawatt-hour (GWh): 1 GWh = 1,000 MWh = 1,000,000 kWh
- Scale: Enough for ~100 US homes for one year
- Uses: Large industrial plants, small utility service territories, data centers
- Example: A medium-sized data center uses 10-50 GWh per year
Terawatt-hour (TWh): 1 TWh = 1,000 GWh = 1,000,000 MWh = 1,000,000,000 kWh
- Scale: National and global electricity consumption
- Example: California uses ~290 TWh per year; US total ~4,000 TWh per year
Power plant output example:
- 1,000 MW (1 GW) nuclear plant running continuously for 1 year:
- 1,000 MW × 8,760 hours/year = 8,760 GWh = 8.76 TWh
How accurate are electricity meters?
Modern electricity meters are extremely accurate:
Electromechanical meters (older spinning disc meters):
- Accuracy: ±1-2% over most load ranges
- More accurate at higher loads, less accurate at very low loads
- Degrade slowly over time; calibrated to read slightly high initially
Digital smart meters (solid-state):
- Accuracy: ±0.5-1% across all load ranges
- Highly accurate even at very low loads (phantom/standby power)
- Consistent accuracy over time (no mechanical wear)
Regulatory standards (US):
- ANSI C12.20 Class 0.2: ±0.2% accuracy (revenue-grade meters)
- Utilities must test meters periodically; out-of-spec meters must be replaced
Practical impact: A 1% error on a 1,000 kWh monthly bill = 10 kWh = $1-2 difference. Given meters tend to read slightly high, customers rarely underpay.
If you suspect meter error:
- Check for obvious high-consumption causes (always-on appliances, inefficient equipment)
- Turn off all breakers except one circuit; use a known load (e.g., 1,000W heater) and time it
- Request utility meter test (usually free or low-cost; if meter is faulty, utility pays; if accurate, small fee)
Can I run my house on a generator? How many kWh?
Generator sizing: Based on power (kW), not energy (kWh)
Average home needs:
- Essential loads only (fridge, lights, electronics): 2-4 kW
- Partial home (add well pump, sump pump, furnace): 5-7 kW
- Whole home without AC: 8-12 kW
- Whole home with central AC: 15-22 kW
Fuel consumption and kWh:
- Portable generators: ~0.5-0.75 gallons/hour per kW output
- Example: 5 kW generator at 50% load (2.5 kW) uses ~1.5 gal/hr
- Running 8 hours = 12 gallons = 12 × 33.7 kWh = 404 kWh chemical → ~100 kWh electrical @ 25% efficiency
Cost comparison:
- Grid electricity: 100 kWh × $0.15 = $15.00
- Generator: 12 gallons × $3.50/gal = $42.00 (plus maintenance, noise, emissions)
Battery backup alternative: A 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall can provide 13.5 kWh of energy (enough for essential loads for 1-2 days during outage), recharged by solar or grid.
How many solar panels do I need to generate X kWh?
Solar panel output: 250-400 watts per panel (newer panels ~350-400W)
Production formula: kWh = Panel wattage (kW) × Peak sun hours × System derate
Peak sun hours (daily average, varies by location and season):
- Southwest US (Arizona, Nevada): 5.5-7 hours
- California: 5-6 hours
- Southern US: 4.5-5.5 hours
- Northern US: 3.5-4.5 hours
System derate factor: ~0.75-0.80 (accounts for inverter efficiency, shading, temperature, wiring losses)
Example 1 (30 kWh per day in Arizona):
- Target: 30 kWh/day
- Location: Phoenix (6 peak sun hours)
- System needed: 30 ÷ (6 × 0.77) = 6.5 kW system
- Number of 350W panels: 6,500 W ÷ 350 W/panel = 19 panels
- Annual production: 30 kWh/day × 365 = 10,950 kWh/year
Example 2 (900 kWh per month in Massachusetts):
- Target: 900 kWh/month = 30 kWh/day
- Location: Boston (4 peak sun hours)
- System needed: 30 ÷ (4 × 0.77) = 9.7 kW system
- Number of 350W panels: 9,700 W ÷ 350 W/panel = 28 panels
Rule of thumb: In average US locations (4.5 peak sun hours), a 1 kW system produces ~1,300-1,500 kWh per year.
About Electronvolt (eV)
How do I convert eV to joules?
Formula: Joules = eV × 1.602176634 × 10⁻¹⁹
Example: 5 eV to joules
- 5 × 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ = 8.01 × 10⁻¹⁹ J
Reverse (joules to eV): eV = J / (1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹)
What is an electronvolt in simple terms?
An electronvolt is the tiny amount of energy that one electron gains when it "falls" through an electric potential difference of one volt, similar to a ball rolling down a one-meter hill gaining gravitational potential energy.
Analogy: Imagine a tiny charged particle (electron) on a "voltage hill." Rolling it down a 1-volt slope gives it 1 eV of energy.
Why use electronvolts instead of joules?
Convenience: Atomic and subatomic energies are incredibly small in joules, making eV more practical:
- Hydrogen ionization: 13.6 eV vs. 2.18 × 10⁻¹⁸ J
- LHC collision: 13 TeV vs. 2.1 × 10⁻⁶ J
- Higgs boson mass: 125 GeV/c² vs. 2.2 × 10⁻²⁵ kg
Natural scale: The electronvolt matches the energy scales in atomic/nuclear/particle physics, just as kilometers are more natural than microinches for geography.
How is energy related to wavelength in eV?
Formula: E (eV) ≈ 1240 / λ (nm)
Precise formula: E = hc/λ = (1239.84193 eV·nm) / λ (nm)
Where:
- h = Planck's constant = 4.136 × 10⁻¹⁵ eV·s
- c = speed of light = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
Examples:
- Red light (620 nm): E = 1240 / 620 = 2.0 eV
- Blue light (400 nm): E = 1240 / 400 = 3.1 eV
- X-ray (0.1 nm): E = 1240 / 0.1 = 12,400 eV = 12.4 keV
What is the difference between eV and eV/c²?
- eV = unit of energy
- eV/c² = unit of mass (through E=mc²)
Example:
- Photon energy: 2 eV (pure energy, massless particle)
- Electron rest mass: 511 keV/c² (intrinsic mass)
- When electron at rest, its rest energy E₀ = mc² = 511 keV
Why divide by c²? To convert from energy units (eV) to mass units, divide by c² = (3 × 10⁸ m/s)².
How many eV in visible light?
Visible spectrum: approximately 1.8 eV (red) to 3.1 eV (violet)
Detailed breakdown:
- Red (700 nm): 1.77 eV
- Orange (620 nm): 2.00 eV
- Yellow (580 nm): 2.14 eV
- Green (520 nm): 2.38 eV
- Blue (470 nm): 2.64 eV
- Violet (400 nm): 3.10 eV
Why this range? Human eye evolved to detect solar spectrum peak output (~500 nm, 2.5 eV).
What is a kiloelectronvolt (keV)?
1 keV = 1,000 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁶ J
Typical applications:
- X-ray energies: 10-100 keV (medical, industrial)
- Inner-shell electron binding energies: 0.1-100 keV
- Low-energy nuclear transitions: 1-1000 keV
- Electron microscope beam energies: 100-300 keV
What is the energy of thermal motion at room temperature?
Room temperature (T = 300 K): kBT ≈ 0.026 eV = 26 meV (millielectronvolts)
Where:
- kB = Boltzmann constant = 8.617 × 10⁻⁵ eV/K
- T = absolute temperature in kelvins
Significance:
- Explains why chemical bonds (1-10 eV) don't spontaneously break at room temperature
- Thermal energy << bond energy, so molecular stability maintained
- Important for semiconductor physics: band gap >> kBT for good insulator
How much energy is in a MeV?
1 MeV (megaelectronvolt) = 1,000,000 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹³ J
Typical MeV-scale phenomena:
- Nuclear binding energies: ~8 MeV per nucleon
- Gamma rays: 0.1-10 MeV
- Positron-electron annihilation: 2 × 0.511 = 1.022 MeV (two 511 keV photons)
- Alpha particle decay energies: 4-9 MeV
- Nuclear fission fragments: 50-200 MeV
What is the Higgs boson mass in eV?
Higgs boson mass: mH ≈ 125.1 GeV/c²
Discovered at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on July 4, 2012.
Context:
- About 133 times heavier than a proton (938 MeV/c²)
- Equivalent to approximately 133 hydrogen atoms in mass
- In kilograms: 2.24 × 10⁻²⁵ kg (incredibly tiny, but "heavy" for elementary particles)
The Higgs boson's mass is crucial to understanding the Higgs mechanism, which gives fundamental particles their mass through interaction with the Higgs field.
Can you use eV for macroscopic energies?
Technically yes, but impractical:
Examples:
- 1 joule = 6.242 × 10¹⁸ eV (6 billion billion eV!)
- 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = 3.6 × 10⁶ J = 2.25 × 10²⁵ eV
- AA battery (3 Wh) = 6.75 × 10²² eV
Why not used: Numbers become absurdly large. The electronvolt is designed for atomic/molecular/nuclear scales, not everyday human-scale energies.
Exception: Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays occasionally reach macroscopic energies:
- Oh-My-God particle (1991): 3 × 10²⁰ eV ≈ 51 joules (energy of baseball at 100 km/h)
Conversion Table: Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt
| Kilowatt-hour (kWh) | Electronvolt (eV) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 11,234,716,334,029,373,000,000,000 |
| 1 | 22,469,432,668,058,746,000,000,000 |
| 1.5 | 33,704,149,002,088,117,000,000,000 |
| 2 | 44,938,865,336,117,490,000,000,000 |
| 5 | 112,347,163,340,293,730,000,000,000 |
| 10 | 224,694,326,680,587,470,000,000,000 |
| 25 | 561,735,816,701,468,640,000,000,000 |
| 50 | 1,123,471,633,402,937,300,000,000,000 |
| 100 | 2,246,943,266,805,874,600,000,000,000 |
| 250 | 5,617,358,167,014,686,000,000,000,000 |
| 500 | 11,234,716,334,029,373,000,000,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 22,469,432,668,058,746,000,000,000,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt?
To convert Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt, enter the value in Kilowatt-hour in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our energy converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Kilowatt-hour to Electronvolt?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Kilowatt-hour and Electronvolt. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Electronvolt back to Kilowatt-hour?
Yes! You can easily convert Electronvolt back to Kilowatt-hour by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Electronvolt to Kilowatt-hour converter page. You can also explore other energy conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Kilowatt-hour and Electronvolt?
Kilowatt-hour and Electronvolt are both standard units used in energy measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our energy converter for more conversion options.
For more energy conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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Other Energy Units and Conversions
Explore other energy units and their conversion options:
- Joule (J) • Kilowatt-hour to Joule
- Kilojoule (kJ) • Kilowatt-hour to Kilojoule
- Megajoule (MJ) • Kilowatt-hour to Megajoule
- Gigajoule (GJ) • Kilowatt-hour to Gigajoule
- Watt-hour (Wh) • Kilowatt-hour to Watt-hour
- Megawatt-hour (MWh) • Kilowatt-hour to Megawatt-hour
- Calorie (cal) • Kilowatt-hour to Calorie
- Kilocalorie (kcal) • Kilowatt-hour to Kilocalorie
- British Thermal Unit (BTU) • Kilowatt-hour to British Thermal Unit
- Therm (therm) • Kilowatt-hour to Therm
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards
International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series
Last verified: February 19, 2026