GHG Vehicle Emissions Calculator

REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY CHOOSING A RENEWABLE FUEL BLEND

The world’s transportation sector currently contributes approximately 20% of global greenhouse gases (GHG) on a full fuel lifecycle basis. A full fuel-cycle analysis of emissions takes into account not only direct GHG emissions (the main one being carbon dioxide or CO2) from vehicles’ tailpipes but also those associated with the extraction, production, transport, processing, conversion and distribution of the fuel. Hence emissions are calculated from the time that oil is extracted from the ground right through to the emissions of CO2, that come from a motorists car through combustion of the fuel in the tank.

How do renewable fuel blends reduce greenhouse gas emissions vs conventional fuel ?

For every litre of petrol used in a motor vehicle, an average of 2.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2), is released into the atmosphere. When renewable fuels are combusted in your engine, they still emit greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, in quantities comparable to conventional fuels. However, unlike conventional fuels, the plant crops from which renewable fuels are ultimately derived absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, helping slow its accumulation in the atmosphere.

This may seem like a small amount, but when you multiply it by hundreds of millions of litres of fuel, it's a significant step towards a cleaner future.

Use our emissions calculator to see how switching fuels to renewable fuel blends can reduce your impact on the environment.

GHG Vehicle Emissions Calculator

What is your fuel consumption rating ? (L/100km) (you can find this in your vehicle handbook or on the Fuel Consumption Label)
What fuel do you typically purchase ?
What distance do you typically drive per annum ?

Please note: The average motorist travels 15000km’s per annum. Savings associated with using BP renewable fuels are based on estimated averages. Independent studies have shown that, over their entire lifecycle, BP’s renewable fuel blends can achieve greenhouse gas reductions of between 1 and 5 per cent depending on feedstock choice and manufacturing practices.

Other Ways to Reduce Your Emissions

There are also a number of other easy ways with your current vehicle to reduce your fuel consumption, which is the easiest and main way to reduce a vehicle’s GHG emissions. These include the following:

Drive less – combine trips, car-pool, get on your bike or take public transport.

Keep your vehicle maintained – if your vehicle is running correctly, it will use less fuel and be more reliable. This includes keeping your vehicle properly tuned and serviced, checking engine oil and coolants, maintaining recommended tyre pressures (under inflated tyres can increase your fuel bill by up to 8%)

Drive smarter - driving smoothly and in higher gears cuts fuel use and GHG emissions. Switching the car off when caught in a traffic jam will save you on fuel and emissions.

Windows up, air-conditioning down - air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by 5% to 10% but this is less than driving with an open window above 60kmh.

Replace and switch - Consider what you buy today and in the future. Different fuels have different amounts of carbon and energy, with implications for fuel economy and greenhouse emissions. The table below lists the amount of CO2 emitted from the exhaust for each litre of a particular fuel covered by the calculator.

CO2 Tailpipe Emissions/Litre of Fuel Consumed
Fuel Type	CO2 Emmission
Petrol	2.4 kg
LPG	1.6 kg
Diesel	2.7 kg

Source: Australian Greenhouse Office website

Another key factor to consider if you are upgrading your vehicle is how fuel efficient the vehicle is. This can be determined by the Fuel Consumption Label required to be displayed on the front windscreen of all new vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass sold in Australia, regardless of fuel or body type. This includes passenger cars, four wheel drives and light commercial vehicles. This an Australian Government initiative to promote consumer demand for vehicles with good fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse impact.

The label indicates how many litres of fuel a vehicle will use to travel 100 kilometres and how many grams of carbon dioxide the vehicle would emit for each kilometre. The lower the numbers, the better the vehicle.

The fuel consumption and emission figures provided on the labels of all vehicles are listed in the Green Vehicle Guide at www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au