So, how much CO2 does your company truly produce? There are two methods for calculating your fleet’s environmental impact: mathematical estimation and precise measurement.
Mathematical estimate
This step is simple if you know how many litres of petrol you buy each month. If you don’t have one, multiply the amount of miles your fleet has driven in a month by the average MPG. You can compute the number of litres of gasoline your fleet consumed using miles and miles-per-gallon.
One litre of diesel produces 2.68 kg of CO2. To calculate your kilograms of CO2, simply multiply your gallons by 2.68. The majority of our clients’ fleets are diesel-powered, but if you have a mixed fleet, you can use the emissions value for gasoline (2.31 kg/l) or something in the middle.
Assume you’re in charge of a fleet of 100 vehicles. Each vehicle travels 1500 miles each month on average, averaging 25 miles per gallon. Each vehicle consumes 60 gallons of gasoline each month (1500/25) – or 272 litres. 728 kilograms of CO2 is produced by 272 litres of fuel (272 * 2.68 = 728). As a result, your entire fleet emits 72,800 kg of CO2.
That’s a huge amount, and it’s worth looking into. It is, however, only an approximate estimate. The actual consumption of each vehicle varies depending on the brand and model, the age of the vehicle, and the driving behavior of your mobile workforce. As a result, it’s nearly hard to identify which levers to pull to reduce costs and emissions using this strategy.
Accurate measurement with telematics
Now is the time to consider a more accurate method: telematics. Today’s vehicle tracking technology capture MPG and real-time fuel consumption data directly from each car’s computer, then analyze it to produce actionable insights. The Fleet and Operations Managers are then given an overview as well as the option to drill down into car-by-car results through a single dashboard.
You may examine each car’s actual MPG at any moment and compare them on the same route, or compare performance across different car models. A simple dial on the dashboard displays your overall fuel use, while automatic reports emphasize the most effective methods for reducing your environmental impact.
The first things to address are speeding and idling. They waste a lot of gasoline and are extremely simple to combat once you have data and scores on driver behavior. Idling for more than 2 minutes appears in our reports as yellow bars that are easy to spot. You can also receive notifications if a driver exceeds a certain speed limit or see drivers ranked based on severe driving events.
If you want to take it a step further, you can install in-cab coaching devices that alert your drivers when they’ve been idling for an extended period of time. Because it engages drivers and lowers the need for further management or training, this form of quick feedback has been demonstrated to be quite beneficial. In-cab tutoring has also resulted in speeding reductions of up to 70% for our customers.
Finally, long routes consume fuel and time for your personnel. Telematics data can assist you in optimizing your route schedule and locating the vehicle nearest to a customer, lowering your greenhouse gas emissions.
“We’ve set a strong priority on lowering CO2 emissions and lowering fuel costs. Thanks to Masternaut’s solution, we’ve saved well under £17,000 in gasoline alone and cut CO2 emissions by 40.6 tonnes.”
How do you calculate CO2 emissions from diesel consumption?
Diesel weights 835 grams per liter. Diesel contains 86.2% carbon, or 720 grammes of carbon per liter of diesel. 1920 grammes of oxygen are required to convert this carbon to CO2. The total CO2/liter diesel is then 720 + 1920 = 2640 grammes.
5 l x 2640 g/l / 100 (per km) = 132 g CO2/km equates to 5 l x 2640 g/l / 100 (per km) = 132 g CO2/km.
One liter of gasoline weighs 750 grams. Petrol has an 87 percent carbon content, or 652 grammes of carbon per liter. 1740 grammes of oxygen are required to convert this carbon to CO2. The total is 652 + 1740 = 2392 grammes CO2/liter of gasoline.
5 l x 2392 g/l / 100 (per km) = 120 g CO2/km equates to 5 l x 2392 g/l / 100 (per km) = 120 g CO2/km.
LPG weights 550 grams per liter. LPG has an 82.5% carbon content, or 454 grammes of carbon per liter of LPG. 1211 grammes of oxygen are required to convert this carbon to CO2. The total CO2/liter of LPG is then 454 + 1211 = 1665 grammes.
5 l x 1665 g/l / 100 (per km) = 83 g CO2/km equates to 5 l x 1665 g/l / 100 (per km) = 83 g CO2/km.
CNG (compressed natural gas) is a gaseous fuel that is held under high pressure. As a result, consumption can be represented in both Nm3/100km and kg/100km. Under normal conditions (1 atm and 0 â”â–’ C), Nm3 stands for a cubic meter. However, the most common unit of measurement for natural gas vehicle consumption is kilograms per 100 kilometers.
In Belgium, there are several types of natural gas, usually grouped into two categories: low and high calorific gas (L- and H-gas). CO2 emissions differ between the two groups and are highly dependent on the gas’s composition and origin. As a result, the calculations below are simply indicative. In Belgium, public CNG stations mostly provide low-calorie gas. As you can see, CO2 emissions per kilogram of H-gas are larger than those of L-gas. However, because H-gas has greater energy, you’ll require less gas every 100 km, ensuring that, at least in theory, the average CO2 emissions from CNG vehicles are unaffected by the type of gas used.
Carbon makes up 61,4 percent of L-gas, or 614 grammes of carbon per kilogram of L-gas. 1638 grammes of oxygen are required to convert this carbon to CO2. The total CO2/kg of L-gas is then 614 + 1638 = 2252 grammes.
5 kg x 2252 g/kg = 113 g CO2/km corresponds to an average consumption of 5 kg per 100 km.
Carbon accounts for 72,7% of H-gas, or 727 grammes of carbon per kilogram of H-gas. 1939 grammes of oxygen are required to convert this carbon to CO2. The total CO2/kg of H-gas is then 727 + 1939 = 2666 grammes.
4,2 kg x 2666 g/kg = 112 g CO2/km corresponds to an average consumption of 4,2 kg per 100 km.
How do you calculate CO2 emissions?
Carbon dioxide emissions per therm are calculated by converting million British thermal units (mmbtu) to therms, then multiplying the carbon coefficient by the fraction oxidized by the ratio of carbon dioxide molecular weight to carbon (44/12).
One therm is equal to 0.1 mmbtu (EIA 2018). In 2018, the average carbon coefficient of pipeline natural gas burnt was 14.43 kg carbon per million British thermal units (mmbtu) (EPA 2020). The percentage of CO2 oxidized is assumed to be 100%. (IPCC 2006).
Please keep in mind that this equivalency shows the CO2 equivalency of CO2 released for natural gas consumed as a fuel, not CO2 released into the atmosphere. In terms of warming effect on the atmosphere, direct methane emissions released to the atmosphere (without burning) are around 25 times more strong than CO2.
Calculation
Note that due to rounding, the results of the computations given in the equations below may not be correct.
1 metric ton/1,000 kg = 0.0053 metric tons CO2/therm 0.1 mmbtu/1 therm 14.43 kg C/mmbtu 44 kg CO2/12 kg C
Using the average heat content of natural gas in 2018, 10.36 therms/Mcf, carbon dioxide emissions per therm can be translated to carbon dioxide emissions per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) (EIA 2019).
Sources
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (2019). Table A4 of the Monthly Energy Review for March 2019: Approximate Natural Gas Heat Content for End-Use Sector Consumption. (PDF) About PDF (1 page, 54 KB)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2020). Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks in the United States, 1990-2018. Table A-43 in Annex 2 (Methodology for Estimating CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning). Washington, DC: US Environmental Protection Agency. #430-R-20-002 (PDF) (US EPA) (108 pp, 2 MB, About PDF)
- IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2006). The IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories were published in 2006. 2nd Edition (Energy). Geneva, Switzerland: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
How do I calculate CO2 emissions per kWh?
In the State Electricity Profiles, the EIA presents annual CO2 emissions and average annual CO2 emissions factors related to total electricity generation by the electric power industry in the United States and each state. Table 1 contains CO2 emissions and emission factors for the most recent year available in each profile, whereas Table 7 has historical annual emissions and emission factors dating back to 1990. Table 7 can be found by clicking on the link under Table 1 that says “Full data tables 1-17.” The coefficients are expressed in pounds of CO2 per megawatthour (MWh). To convert the factor to pounds per kWh, multiply it by 1,000.
In state-level electricity data files, there are more state-level data on electricity-related CO2 emissions and generation by type of power producer and fuel/energy source (xls).
- Estimated CO2 Emissions by State in the US Electric Power Industry provides estimates for CO2 emissions by type of energy source in metric tons. By multiplying the amount of metric tons by 1.1, you can convert them to short tons. To convert to pounds, multiply the figure by 2,000.
- Data are in MWh and are broken down by state, kind of producer, and energy source. To convert to kWh, multiply by 1,000.
A kilowatthour of electricity is generated using how much coal, natural gas, or petroleum?
What are the emissions factors for greenhouse gases and air pollutants for fuels and electricity?
How much CO2 does a diesel car produce per km?
In 2021, the average petrol automobile in the UK released 174 grams of CO2 per kilometer (g CO2e per km), while diesel cars emitted 168g CO2e per km. In comparison, the typical battery electric vehicle (BEV) generates 57.77g CO2e per kilometer, which is significantly less.
Do diesel engines emit CO2?
I just heard on the radio that, despite their well-deserved reputation for polluting the environment with fumes, soot, and other pollutants, diesel engines emit less carbon dioxide than gasoline engines. Is there any basis for this? Why does the trucking sector, as well as heavy equipment used in construction and other industries, rely on diesel?
When Volkswagen was exposed for placing software on its vehicles to cheat pollution tests, diesel engines took a tremendous, humiliating hit. However, diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines, and newer ones, according to one recent research, are cleaner, except for their greater nitrogen oxide emissions. Diesel sales have plummeted in Europe as a result of the problem, and some major towns, including as Paris, are considering banning them. Meanwhile, all-electric and hybrid automobile sales in Europe are steadily expanding.
Diesel engines are utilized in trucks and heavy machinery because they produce significantly greater torque than their gasoline-fueled counterparts, which means they simply push harder. They use many types of ignition: A diesel engine does not use spark plugs; instead, it compresses the air in its cylinders to the point where it becomes hot enough to ignite the diesel fuel.
Diesel is also utilized in huge trucks and other heavy equipment since the entire cost of running a diesel engine is about 30% less than that of a gasoline engine. In addition, a diesel engine can often run twice as long as a gasoline engine before requiring major maintenance. (Some Mercedes-Benz diesels have surpassed 900,000 miles.) Diesel engines emit less carbon dioxide than gasoline engines because they are more efficient. Diesel fuel has around 12% more energy per gallon than regular gasoline, and about 16% more energy than ethanol-containing gasoline.
According to a new study published in Scientific Reports by Canadian, European, and American scientists, newer diesel engines are actually cleaner than gasoline engines in several ways, and their visible pollutants are less harmful than the invisible toxins emitted by gas engines. Newer diesel engines, unlike earlier ones, have diesel particle filters that catch the majority of the toxic particulate matter. However, the amount of nitrogen oxide released by diesel engines continues to be an issue.
How are emission rates calculated?
Calculate your emissions for each emissions unit or group, including fugitive sources and tanks, by following these procedures. Additional columns in the spreadsheet can and should be included to represent additional steps or information unique to your process.
Step 2. Emission Factor
Include the emission factor in pounds per unit of production or per unit of material utilization for each pollutant obtained from the above-mentioned source(s).
Step 3. Emission Rate
Multiply the emission factor by the operation’s maximum capacity to get the emission rate (in units of production per hour, material usage per hour, or whatever units the emission factor is in).
Step 4. Maximum uncontrolled emissions
Multiply the hourly emission rate by 8760 hours per year and divide by 2000 pounds per ton to get the maximum uncontrolled emissions. This is the ‘unrestricted maximum emissions’ in tons per year that should be entered in the middle column of Form GI-07.
Step 5. Pollution control efficiency
Include the effectiveness of pollution control. The pollution control efficiency is calculated by multiplying the capture efficiency by the destruction/collection efficiency listed on Form GI-05A (or another comparable form, depending on the type of permit you’re looking for) or in your permission. Fill in this amount, and don’t forget to provide a strategy to show and maintain the destruction/collection efficiency on Form CD-05. Each pollutant’s efficiency should be expressed. Indicate “zero” as the control efficiency if there is no control for a particular pollutant.
- Capture efficiency x destruction (or collection) efficiency = Pollution Control Efficiency
Step 8. Hourly Emission Rate Allowed by State Rule or Federal Regulation
Include the maximum hourly emission rate permitted by 40 CFR points 60, 61, and 63, or Minn. R. ch. 7011. (For details on the applicability of the various regulations, see Form GI-09.)
Step 9. Limited controlled emissions
Limited regulated emissions are computed by taking into consideration all of the source’s operational constraints in this application. These restrictions include restrictions on operating hours, the amount of material mined, handled, crushed, and screened, and so on. You begin calculating limited controlled emissions by repeating the computation of emission rate while accounting for the constraints you propose. In the right column of Form GI-07, item 3e, this is the limited controlled emissions in tons per year.
You must show this requirement in the computation of restricted controlled emissions and take it into consideration if an emission unit is subject to an emission limitation specified in 40 CFR pt. 60, 40 CFR pt. 61, 40 CFR pt. 63, or Minn. R. ch. 7011. If you opt to suggest a more strict limit, make sure to state it explicitly and include the resulting permitted emissions in this computation.
Step 10. Actual uncontrolled emissions
Multiply the emission factor by the actual annual production rate or material use rate (or whatever units the emission factor is in) and divide by 2000 pounds per ton to get the real emissions.
Step 11. Actual controlled emissions
Multiply the actual uncontrolled emissions by the actual controlled emissions to get the actual controlled emissions (100 percent – the control efficiency). The formula is as follows:
What is CO2 equivalent emissions?
The number of metric tons of CO2 emissions that have the same global warming potential as one metric ton of another greenhouse gas, known as CO2e, is computed using Equation A-1 in 40 CFR Part 98.