Size My Habit

Driving & Fuel Calculator

Convert your monthly miles or fuel usage into epic journeys to the Moon. See your fuel fill swimming pools or calculate the trees needed for CO2 offset.

Size My Driving & Fuel

Your Habit Scale

See how your consumption adds up over time.
Time PeriodEquivalent in Total Cost
1 Year$0.00
5 Years$0.00
25 Years$0.00

How It's Calculated

  • 1. Your input: 1000 Kilometers Driven per month.
  • 2. Your set price: $1.80 per litre.
  • 3. The calculation for one year is: (1,000 litres/month) × 12 months/year × $1.80/litre = $21,600.00.
  • 4. The table shows this projected total cost over 1, 5, and 25 years.

Why It's Important

Visualizing your driving & fuel as 0.00 total cost can be quite an eye-opener! It takes an abstract number and transforms it into something tangible, often with surprising results.

The power of these analogies lies in their ability to reframe abstract numbers into something your brain can truly latch onto. This isn't about guilt; it's about habit awareness through data visualization. That 'aha!' moment can be incredibly motivating, sparking curiosity about the broader implications of your choices on your health, finances, or the environment.

Do you need help with your habit? See our list of international helplines and resources.

The Science Behind It

Fuel consumption from driving contributes significantly to personal and global carbon footprints. SizeMyHabit’s Driving Fuel Calculator converts kilometers or miles driven and fuel quantity into CO₂ emissions, fuel economy metrics, and resource impact—drawing on combustion chemistry and environmental engineering.

1. Combustion Chemistry & CO₂ Production

Burning one liter of gasoline yields approximately 2.31 kg of CO₂, while diesel produces 2.68 kg/L, based on stoichiometric reaction C₈H₁₈ + 12.5 O₂ → 8 CO₂ + 9 H₂O. The calculator uses vehicle-specific fuel economy data (L/100 km or mpg) to compute total emissions per trip.

2. Life-Cycle Emissions

Tailpipe CO₂ accounts for about 75% of a vehicle’s life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions; the remaining 25% stems from fuel extraction, refining, and distribution. Our tool adds a 1.3× multiplier to tailpipe CO₂ to approximate full life-cycle impact.

3. Fuel Efficiency & Driving Behavior

Real-world driving conditions (speed, acceleration, load) influence fuel efficiency. Each 10 km/h increase above 90 km/h can raise fuel consumption by 10–20% due to aerodynamic drag. The calculator’s “trip profile” option adjusts emissions estimates based on typical urban vs. highway driving.

4. Alternative Fuels & Electrification

Electric vehicles (EVs) produce zero tailpipe emissions, but upstream electricity generation can vary widely. In regions with 50 g CO₂/kWh grid intensity, an EV uses ~15 kWh per 100 km, equating to 0.75 kg CO₂/100 km—one-tenth of an efficient gasoline car. SizeMyHabit allows users to compare petrol, diesel, and electric modes side by side.

5. Behavioral Feedback & Modal Shift

Providing personalized CO₂ feedback increases the likelihood of behavioral change: drivers who see their emissions per trip reduce annual mileage by up to 5% and shift 10% of trips to public or active transport. Visualizing “trees needed to offset” reinforces the impact of small choices.

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