The Vehicle Emissions Methodology

Our Vehicle Calculator:

Numerous carbon calculators exist for vehicle usage, yet most are generalized and fall short in offering a comprehensive LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) that encompasses both the build and maintenance phases. This absence of detailed information can foster misconceptions, potentially causing individuals to question the best path forward as they strive towards a net zero transition.

Our goal is to help motorists transition to net zero in a way that is pragmatic, led by facts, and works in the real world. We want to effect this change NOW.

Understanding Build Costs:

We dove deep into research and data to pinpoint the distinct differences between various vehicle types - EV, ICE, and PHEV, importantly answering the debate about the additional burden of mining materials for EV batteries. From this, we derived a CO2e figure accounting for these differences. This enabled us to adjust our calculations based on specific vehicle variations and their respective CO2e footprints, including the vehicle's manufacturing location.

A cornerstone decision was to distribute the build cost across a vehicle's projected lifetime. Solely charging the first buyer with the entire build cost didn't seem equitable. For instance, if a car changes hands after just three years, subsequent owners should share a portion of the initial CO2e production costs. This principle applies until the vehicle reaches its average lifetime mileage, set at 150k miles. Beyond this milestone, we categorize the vehicle under our unique '2nd lifetime phase', attributing additional ongoing maintenance instead of the original manufactuering costs.

Use Phase:

While EVs significantly reduce tailpipe CO2 emissions, they aren’t completely carbon free. The electricity source is a critical variable. By integrating live grid electricity CO2 data and considering geographical variances (down to the UK's postcode level), we offer a detailed emissions snapshot. Users also have the flexibility to adjust calculations based on home renewable energy sources, highlighting our dedication to catering to individual circumstances.

For PHEV vehicles, we considered the proportion of time a vehicle operates solely on electricity versus its traditional ICE mode. Real-world data in this area was eye-opening and fundamentally shifted our perspective on hybrids.

Maintenance Costs:

Vehicle longevity encompasses more than just fuel—it's also about parts: tires, clutches, brakes, oil, and more. Our algorithms factors in these elements, presenting CO2e figures specific to each vehicle type.

End of Life:

Regrettably, we couldn’t find dependable data on this front. As such, we’ve opted to omit it for now. However, we are confident that recycling costs would not drastically skew the overall life cycle costs. Instead of stalling our entire initiative, we've chosen to move forward, all the while keeping an eye out for comprehensive scientific studies on the matter.

For enthusiasts eager to delve deeper into the intricacies and calculations driving our tools, we welcome you to explore our white paper. Our commitment to transparency is unwavering. We foster open dialogue, and as the scientific landscape evolves, so do our methodologies. Should new discoveries surface that can refine our approach, we're eager to integrate them.