Carbon Footprint App

Our Methodology

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Understanding Carbon Footprints

How Do We Calculate Carbon Emissions?
Our approach to calculating carbon emissions involves considering various factors such as fuel type, distance traveled, and energy efficiency. We utilize established formulas that comply with Euro Emissions Standards to ensure accuracy and reliability. By inputting trip details such as distance, vehicle type, fuel type, and the number of passengers, users can calculate their emissions and compare different transport options like cars, bikes, and public transport.

We use this General Formula for each means of transport:
CO2=dfep
fe= Emission Factor in CO2/km
d= Distance
p= Amount of Passengers

Cars

According to the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedures (WLTP) in 2019, CO2 emissions for cars by fuel type are the following:
Gasoline: 120 – 180 g/km
Diesel: 100 – 160 g/km
Hybrid (gasoline): 50 – 100 g/km
Electric: 26 g/km (tailpipe) - but depends on electricity generation
LPG / CNG: 100 - 130 g/km

Example to understand with a gasoline car:
If it consumes 6 L / 100 km, it emits approximately:

6 L × 2.3 kg CO₂/L = 13.8 kg CO₂ / 100 km
Or 138 g CO₂ / km
(Gasoline produces approximately 2.3 kg of CO₂ per litre burnt, diesel ~2.6 kg/L).

Buses

According to a study of Chalmers tekniska högskola - Metodrapport för Klimatsmartsemester version 4.1 and NHO Transport:

Diesel bus: 30 g/km
Electric train in the Nordic Countries: 13 g/km

Airplanes

The French agency of the ecological transition (ADEME) has calculated CO2 emissions for flights:
Domestic flights (less than 600 km): 250–300 g CO₂/km. Bergen-Oslo for example
Short hauls (600–3700 km): 150–200 g CO₂/km. Bergen-Paris for example
Long hauls (>3700 km): 90–130 g CO₂/km. Oslo-New York for example

It is important to note that these figures vary according to the type of aircraft, the load factor and the class of travel. For example, the business class can emit 2 to 3 times more than the economic class, because one seat occupies more space in the aircraft. For one row of seats, we can fit six seats of economic class and only two or three of business class. However, the plane needs the same amount of fuel to fly the same distance.

Trains

In Norway, bus transportation is managed through a collaboration among several companies. We will incorporate data provided by Vy. Specifically, the emission factor for electric buses will be directly sourced from Vy's data.

Non-renewable energy:
Diesel: 27 g/km
Biodiesel: 14 g/km
Electric train in the Nordic countries: 13 g/km

Motorbike & E-bike

Motorbike: engine size and emissions:
Electric scooter: 0 g/km (direct)
Small scooter (≤125cc) (Light city usage, efficient): 60–100 g/km
Medium motorcycle (125–500cc) (Urban + peri-urban use): 90–150 g/km
Large motorcycle (≥500cc) (Touring, highway bikes): 130–200+ g/km

A motorbike is generally a bit better than a car in CO₂/km, especially small scooters.
BUT! Motorbikes emit more of certain local air pollutants (like CO, HC, and NOx) than modern cars, especially older models or 2-stroke engines.

Walking

Walking and using bikes produce zero emissions, making them the most environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

Euro Emissions Standards

Our calculations adhere to Euro Emissions Standards, which set strict limits on pollutant emissions from vehicles. These standards ensure that our estimates are accurate and comply with regulatory requirements, providing users with reliable data to make informed decisions about their transportation choices.