Carpooling Cost Calculator

Distance:

Car Brand:

Trip Type:

Fuel Economy:

Fuel Price:

Number of People:

Fuel Used:

Fuel Cost:

Cost per Person:

1. What is a Carpooling Cost Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the cost of a carpooling trip by calculating the fuel used, total fuel cost, and cost per person based on distance, fuel economy, fuel price, and the number of people sharing the cost.

Purpose: It helps users plan affordable and eco-friendly trips by estimating and splitting travel costs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formulas:

\[ \text{Fuel Used [L]} = \frac{\text{Distance [km]} \times \text{Fuel Usage [L/100km]}}{100} \] \[ \text{Fuel Cost} = \text{Fuel Used [L]} \times \text{Fuel Price} \] \[ \text{Cost per Person} = \frac{\text{Fuel Cost}}{\text{No. of People}} \]

Unit Conversions:

Distance: km, mi (1 mi = 1.60934 km)
Fuel Economy: L/100km, mpg (1 mpg = 235.215 / (L/100km))
Fuel Used: L, US gal (1 L = 0.264172 US gal), UK gal (1 L = 0.219969 UK gal)
Fuel Price: $/L, $/US gal (1 US gal = 3.78541 L), $/UK gal (1 UK gal = 4.54609 L)

Steps:

Enter the distance, selecting the unit (km, mi).
Select a car brand and trip type, or enter a custom fuel economy, selecting the unit (L/100km, mpg).
Enter the fuel price, selecting the unit ($/L, $/US gal, $/UK gal).
Enter the number of people sharing the cost.
Convert inputs to base units (km, L/100km, $/L) for calculation.
Calculate fuel used, fuel cost, and cost per person.
Display fuel used in the selected unit (L, US gal, UK gal).

3. Importance of Carpooling Cost Calculation

Calculating carpooling costs is crucial for:

Cost Savings: Splitting fuel costs among multiple people.
Environmental Impact: Reducing the number of vehicles on the road, lowering emissions.
Travel Planning: Budgeting for trips accurately.

4. Using the Calculator

Examples:

Example 1: Distance = 100 km, Car: Toyota Camry (Urban and Highway, 6.72 L/100km), Fuel Price = $1.50/L, No. of People = 4:
- Fuel Used: $ \text{Fuel Used [L]} = \frac{100 \times 6.72}{100} = 6.72 \, \text{L} $
- In US gal: $ 6.72 \div 3.78541 = 1.78 \, \text{US gal} $
- In UK gal: $ 6.72 \div 4.54609 = 1.48 \, \text{UK gal} $
- Fuel Cost: $ \text{Fuel Cost} = 6.72 \times 1.50 = 10.08 \, \$ $
- Cost per Person: $ \text{Cost per Person} = \frac{10.08}{4} = 2.52 \, \$ $
Example 2: Distance = 200 mi, Car: Ford Explorer (Highway, 10.69 L/100km), Fuel Price = $4.00/US gal, No. of People = 3:
- Distance: $ 200 \times 1.60934 = 321.87 \, \text{km} $
- Fuel Used: $ \text{Fuel Used [L]} = \frac{321.87 \times 10.69}{100} = 34.41 \, \text{L} $
- In US gal: $ 34.41 \div 3.78541 = 9.09 \, \text{US gal} $
- Fuel Price: 1.06 $/L
- Fuel Cost: $ \text{Fuel Cost} = 34.41 \times 1.06 = 36.47 \, \$ $
- Cost per Person: $ \text{Cost per Person} = \frac{36.47}{3} = 12.16 \, \$ $

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between US and UK gallons?
A: A US gallon is 3.78541 liters, while a UK gallon is 4.54609 liters, making the UK gallon about 20% larger.

Q: Can I use the calculator for one person?
A: Yes, simply set the number of people to 1 to calculate the total cost for a single person.

Q: How do I find my car’s fuel economy?
A: You can find your car’s fuel economy in the vehicle’s manual, online specifications, or by selecting a car and trip type from the provided list.

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