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Emissions data for ESG reporting

Learn in detail how we compute CO2 emissions from vehicle data

Our emission data export feature for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, provides fleet customers with valuable insights into their vehicles' carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

This article aims to clarify the underlying assumptions and methodologies used to compute CO2 values for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) and the data sources used for calculating distances.

 

CO2 Calculations for ICE Vehicles

For Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, CO2 emissions are determined using fuel consumption data. Since most of the fuel data we receive is reported in increments of 1 liter, a modern vehicle might travel up to 25 km before any fuel consumption is recorded. This can lead to inaccurate readings for shorter trips, where it may appear that no fuel was used. To improve accuracy, we calculate fuel consumption by combining the vehicle’s running average fuel efficiency (km/L) with the actual distance travelled.

 

In certain regions, the use of biofuels can alter the CO2 emissions per liter of fuel. However, our current model applies fixed CO2 emission conversion values from the International Council on Clean Transportation to ensure consistency in our calculations. Specifically we use the values of 2.337 kgCo2/L for gasoline and 2.684 kgCo2 /L for diesel. If it becomes necessary to account for variations due to biofuel content, emission factors from sources such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) could be utilised, https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/daviz/average-greenhouse-gas-intensity-of-2.

 

CO2 Calculations for EVs

For EVs, CO2 emissions are calculated based on the electricity consumed to power the vehicle. Sometimes, the State of Charge (SoC) data is provided only in whole integer percentages, which can result in no apparent change for shorter trips, leading to underreported emissions. To mitigate this issue, we use a per-car running average energy efficiency (measured in kWh/km) combined with the distance travelled to estimate energy consumption more accurately.

In cases where only limited data is available for EVs, we use a machine learning model trained on data from our fleet of EVs. This model estimates energy consumption based on recorded distance and temperature, providing a reasonable approximation when direct data isn't available. While this method is an estimate, it offers a more reliable alternative to not reporting any consumption data at all.

 

Additionally, we apply country-specific annual conversion factors to convert kWh into CO2 emissions. These factors account for variations in the local energy mix and carbon intensity, which can vary significantly from one country to another. The conversion factors are updated yearly to reflect the latest data, such as those provided by sources like Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/carbon-intensity-electricity). The estimates are based on the best available data at that moment. This approach ensures that our calculations accurately represent the CO2 emissions associated with electricity consumption in different regions.

 

CO2 Calculations for Hybrids

Hybrid vehicles are classified as high-performing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with CO2 calculations based exclusively on effective fuel consumption. This approach is chosen due to the lack of sufficient data to accurately differentiate between hybrid battery usage and fuel consumption. By focusing solely on effective fuel consumption, consistent application of established fuel-to-CO2 conversion factors is ensured. This approach is consistent with the standard method of calculating average fuel efficiency (km/L), which indirectly captures the efficiency gains from battery usage. Consequently, hybrid vehicles that rely more heavily on battery power will naturally show higher effective fuel efficiency. This methodology provides a reasonable and practical estimate of CO2 emissions for hybrid vehicles.

 

Distance Measurement

Accurate distance measurement is crucial for our CO2 calculations. We primarily use GPS data to track the distance travelled by each vehicle due to its high accuracy. If GPS data is unavailable due to Fleet working hours or privacy considerations we will rely on odometer readings as a backup to ensure consistent and reliable distance measurements, but it should be noted that some cars measure odometer distance in increments of 10 km.

 

Summary

Our ESG data export feature uses a combination of average efficiency metrics, direct consumption data, and country-specific CO2 conversion factors to deliver accurate CO2 emission calculations for both ICE vehicles and EVs. By prioritizing accuracy in distance measurement using GPS and odometer data, we ensure that our emissions calculations are as precise and reliable as possible.

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