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Clean Air Partnership

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Emissions Calculator Assumptions and Data Sources

Vehicle efficiency and emissions:

  • For diesel and gas powered vehicles, the Natural Resources Canada 2016 Fuel Consumption Ratings were used
  • All hybrids are assumed to save 30% on fuel consumption and emissions production
  • All consumption data for diesel, gas and hybrids use the 2016 year, as the average vehicle age in Ontario is 6 years old
  • For electric vehicle (EV) consumption data, 2016 was an inappropriate choice as few EVs were available in 2016. Instead, energy consumption is averaged by vehicle size from 2012-2022
  • EV emissions are based on charging in Ontario, where 31gC02/kwh is used for the most recent year with complete data (2020)
  • Combined city/highway figures were used to determine efficiency for all vehicles

Vehicle costs

  • Diesel, gas and hybrid fuel costs are the Ontario average of the most recent 3 complete months
  • EV fuel cost is the Ontario mid-peak rate for the most recent 3 complete months
  • Plug-in hybrid vehicles are not included in the tool, we suggest using hybrid class instead
  • Costs for all vehicle’s maintenance, wear and tear are taken from the AAA 2021 Your Driving Costs Report, and translated from miles to km, and $USD to $CAD for the Canadian context
  • Gas, diesel and hybrid vehicles of the same size class are assumed to have the same maintenance, wear and tear costs
  • Insurance costs are generally unchanged based on usage and are thus excluded
  • Licensing, registration and taxes are unchanged based on usage and are thus excluded
  • Depreciation, while affected by vehicle kilometres travelled, is also affected by a range of other unchanged factors and is thus excluded

Vehicle categories

  • Natural Resources Canada classifies vehicles into 13 size types. To be more user-friendly, these were reclassified into seven classes for use in our tool
  • No minivans or pickup EV categories exist, so medium SUV class is used instead
  • No large sedan diesel fuel economy category exists, medium sedan values are used instead
  • No minivan diesel fuel economy category exists, medium SUV values are used instead

Time calculations

  • To account for leave and vacation the calculator uses a base working year of 45 weeks.
  • Time savings are provided in work days. A work day is assumed to be 7.5 hours
Clean Air Partnership

75 Elizabeth Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1P4


416-460-6320
cap@cleanairpartnership.org

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