No, the regenerative breaking isn't the reason why electric vehicles are more efficient. Traditional ICE are very inefficient, only converting 20% of chemical

No, the regenerative breaking isn't the reason why electric vehicles are more efficient. Traditional ICE are very inefficient, only converting 20% of chemical energy to kinetic energy (with the rest being turned to heat). Diesels are a better at 40%. (modern ccs gas power plants get to 65% from gas to electricity) Electric motors in cars are approx. 90% efficient. Combined with charging losses and others, that comes out to approx. 70%-80%. Regenarative breaking only adds an additional ~20%.