Welcome to the heart of how VestTrack works! Here we will break down the process behind our carbon footprint calculator and the data that powers it. Our foundation is built on trusted sources like "Fremtiden i våre hender", "SSB" and more. To get a better understanding, head over to our paper linked below.
Ready to dive deeper?
\(CO_2\) = Carbon emission in grams
d = Distance traveled in kilometers
ef = emission factor (grams of \(CO_2\) per km)
p = number of passengers
Ef = Emission factor in grams of \(CO_2\) per km
x = the distance traveled in kilometers
ec = emission factor in grams of \(CO_2\) per km
For cars, emissions were calculated per vehicle per kilometre rather than per passenger, as this method was considered to provide a more accurate representation of the total \(CO_2\) emissions. To get better results, we further differentiated between large, medium and small vehicles and by fuel type, including diesel, petrol, and electric cars.
| Emission per car per kilometer (g) | Small | Medium | Big |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 150 | 198 | 261 |
| Diesel | 174 | 229 | 302 |
| Electric Nordics | 45 | 59 | 78 |
For diesel: "Framtiden i våre hender" have calculated that buses running on diesel emit 30g
\(CO_2\) / passenger-kilometer here in Norway.
For electrical: we calculate emissions using g \(CO_2\) / km = kWh / km * g \(CO_2\) / kWh.
An electric bus uses 1.7 kWh / km, and Norwegian electricity emits 18.9 g \(CO_2\) / kWh.
So the bus emits: 1.7 * 18.9 = 32.13 g \(CO_2\) per km. To get emissions per passenger, we divide by the average of 28 passengers: 32.13 / 28 = 1.15 g \(CO_2\) per person-km.
Trains in Norway, Sweden, and Finland emit about 7 g \(CO_2\) per passenger-km, compared to the European average of 26 g \(CO_2\)/km. Since this app is designed as an extension of Skyss, we use the Norwegian value of 7 g \(CO_2\) per passenger-km for electric trains. For diesel trains, we apply a general emission factor of 91 g \(CO_2\) per km.
Ferry emissions are given as total \(CO_2\) per kilometre, so we convert them to emissions per passenger using an estimated average of 25 passengers per trip. For electric ferries, this results in an average of 84 g \(CO_2\) per person-kilometre.
For diesel ferries, we use the emission factor from Fremtiden i våre hender, where the average is 186 g \(CO_2\) per person-kilometre.
Consumers can choose between different travel classes. This helps raise awareness of how small choices can contribute to reducing \(CO_2\) emissions.
| Flight per- person kilometers (g) | \(CO_2\) |
|---|---|
| Economy | 127 |
| Economy permium | 155 |
| Business | 285 |
Our motorbike calculations are based on data from SSB and show that the avarege motorbike emits approximately 81,5g of \(CO_2\) per kilometer.
Electric scooters actually emit about 35 g \(CO_2\) per person-km, mainly due to production. Still, we set their emissions to 0 in the app to stay consistent with the other transport modes.
Walking produces 0 g \(CO_2\), making it a completely emission free way to travel. It's the most sustainable choice.
Cycling produces 0 g \(CO_2\), making it a clean and sustainable option. It’s an efficient, eco-friendly way to travel.