Average miles per gallon of a car of unknown fuel is 33.6.
source: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13625-emission-factor-methodology-paper-110905.pdf
232 - assuming that you work 5 days a week and receive the minimum holiday entitlement of 28 days annual leave per year (including 8 bank holidays). This was updated in April 2009 along with the changes to the minimum holiday requirement.
source: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10029788
To calculate the actual journey distance we take the 'crow flies' distance and multiply by 1.25.
source: www.transportdirect.info/Web2/staticnoprint.aspx?id=_web2_help_helpcarbon
Average fuel cost for all fuels are taken as £1.41 per litre. These figures are updated fortnightly. We do not take account of past changes in fuel costs. All of our calculations use the current fuel price.
source: www.petrolprices.com
An average car will emit 204.6 grams of carbon dioixide (CO2) per km.
source: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13625-emission-factor-methodology-paper-110905.pdf
0.295 mg of nitrogen oxides are emitted per car kilometre. This takes Euro III standard cars as the average. It is worth noting that diesel cars have a considerably higher emissions level than petrol.
source: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/emissionsfactorsforeuroiiicars?page=8
0.01945 mg of particulate matter is emitted per car kilometre. This takes Euro III standard cars as the average. It is worth noting that diesel cars have a considerably higher emissions level than petrol.
source: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/emissionsfactorsforeuroiiicars?page=8
236.7 mg of carbon monoxide is emitted per car kilometre, which is equivalent to 380.9mg per mile. This takes Euro III standard cars as the average. It is worth noting that diesel cars have a considerably lower emissions level (29.7) than petrol (443.7).
source: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/emissionsfactorsforeuroiiicars?page=8
0.0145 mg of hydrocarbons is emitted per car kilometre. This takes Euro III standard cars as the average. The difference in emissions level between fuels is diesel and petrol.
source: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/research/cqvcf/emissionsfactorsforeuroiiicars?page=8
2.5 people.
source: 2008 survey of liftshare members
Average wear and tear cost per mile is £0.08352. This is based on AA figures, for an average new car value of £28,159.
source: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/running_costs, http://www.drivendata.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/DD-Car-Index-May-2011.pdf
The circumference of the earth round the equator is 40,075.02km or 24901.46 miles.
source: David R. Lide (2000) Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 81st edition, CRC
One hot air balloon is equivalent to 1.8 tonnes of CO2.
source: CRed Report, 2006
We assume that a tree will sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide at an average of 50 pounds of carbon dioxide per tree per year. This is the equivalent to 22.6796185 kilograms a year.
source: http://www.plant-trees.org/resources/Calculating CO2 Sequestration by Trees.pdf
All of our savings calculations assume that car-sharers would otherwise drive alone. Occasional/Shift journeys are counted as one-off return journeys.