Fujii, Y. (2013), Environmental Impact by Short Distance Trip, Proc. MMIJ Fall Meeting 2013 Sapporo, C6-1, pp. 505-506,
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Sep. 5

Environmental Impact by Short Distance Trip
Yoshiaki FUJII, Hokkaido Univ., JAPAN1. Introduction

Retail price of Nissan LEAF X as an example of electricFujii (2011) calculated and compared energy, CO2 emission

vehicles is 3760 kJPY and price of electricity is 2.8 JPY/km forand cost to move for short distance by gasoline, hybrid andoff-peak rate or 5.7 JPY/km for peak rate (Fujii, 2011). Quick

electric vehicles, and found that energy consumption and CO2

charge may cost much more (Fujii, 2011). The same tax, caremission of an electric vehicle were the both merely several

inspection and insurance as the popular car were assumed.

10% lower than a gasoline vehicle of the similar size. It wasCharging instruments cost 99750 JPY.

also found that cost for move by using an electric vehicle is

Honda Insight XL, a hybrid car, costs 2250 kJPY and its

higher than a gasoline vehicle considering the purchase priceMPG is 23.2 km/L. The same tax, car inspection and insurance

and running cost (gas or electricity).

as the popular car were assumed.

Fujii (2013) calculated and compared cost to move for short

MPG of Honda Super Cub, an example of scooter, is 110.0

distance by small, mid and large gasoline vehicles, scooter, city

km/L. The retail price of the scooter is 190 kJPY and tax isbike, running, walking and public transportation and found that1000 JPY/y. Insurance, annual mileage and total mileage before

scooter was the cheapest way. City bike and small car followed.

disposal were assumed to be 30 kJPY/y, 10000 km/y andCost for walking and running were higher than even small car

100000 km.

considering the foods to replenish the energy for the move.

A city bike was assumed to be sold at 20 kJPY. Annual

This paper mixes the above two papers, includes tax andmileage, total mileage before disposal and insurance wereinspection for cars and insurance, and focuses to calculate cost.

assumed to be 2000 km/y, 20000 km and 3 kJPY/y. Energy

Environmental impacts for the moving methods are compared

consumption and cost for foods to replenish the energy are 84

assuming that the cost has a positive correlation withkJ/km and 10 JPY/km (Fujii, 2013), respectively.

environmental impact.
Environmental impact means not only CO2 emission but also

Retail price of a sports bike was assumed to be 500 kJPY.
The other costs were assumed to be the same as the city bike.

pollution of water and air, degradation of landscape,It was assumed that a pair of running shoes costs 10 kJPY

deforestation, consumption of energy and mineral resourcesand disposed at 10000 km for running. Energy consumption

etc., thus, LCA is impossible.

and its cost are 252 kJ/km and 30 JPY/km (Fujii, 2013),respectively. Everything for walking is the same as those for

2. Calculation process

running (Fujii 2013).

Nissan Moco, DBA-MG225 as an example of small cars, canFor an example of public transportation, 1 km walking, 4 km

run 20.2 km/L (JC08 mode). Cost for gas is 7.4 JPY/kmbus, 4 km subway and then 1 km walking were assumed. Theassuming gas retail price of 150 JPY. Retail price of Moco iscost for the bus and subway is 34 JPY/km because the author

between 1050-1520 kJPY. Purchase cost is 12.9 JPY/km bypays 340 JPY for this commute. Subtle costs for shoes andusing 1290 kJPY, the median value, and assuming that the car

foods were added for the walking parts.

is used for 100000 km. Tax for the small car is 7200 JPY/y or
0.72 JPY/km assuming that the annual mileage is 10000 km/y.

3. Results and discussions

Costs for car inspection and voluntary insurance are 2.5

The cost for the scooter is the cheapest (Fig. 1). City bike

JPY/km and 2 JPY/km assuming that car inspection fee is 50

and small car follows. Cost for the big car is significantly

kJPY/2 y and premier for the voluntary insurance is 20 kJPY/y.

expensive. Costs for popular car, electric vehicle, hybrid

Note that the gas price includes tax to make and maintainvehicle, sports bike, running, walking and public transportation

roads.

are almost the same, or cost for electric vehicles are slightly

MPG, retail price and tax are 20.0 km/L (JC08), 1629 kJPY
and 39.5 kJPY for Toyota Carolla Axio 1.5G CVT 4WD as an

expensive and costs for running and waking are slightly cheap.
Assuminga

positivecorrelation

betweencostandexample of popular cars. Car inspection fee and insurance wereenvironmental impact, the following findings are noted.

assumed to be 130 kJPY/2y and 30 kJPY/y.

(1) Environmental impacts of scooter, city bike and small car

MPG, retail price and tax are 5.6 km/L (JC08), 11040

are small.

kJPY and 88 kJPY/y for Land Rover ABA-LS5S as an example(2) Environmental impact of electric vehicle is severer thanof big cars. Car inspection fee and insurance were assumed topopular car or hybrid car.

be 180 kJPY/2y and 40 kJPY/y.

(3) Environmental impacts of sports bike, running, walking andpublic transportation are as large as that of popular car or
hybrid car.

public transportation is definitely cheaper than small cars.
Airplane, an example of long distance trip, costs 11.9 - 41.0

There would be no need to explain (1). (2) is because electric

JPY/km based on Sapporo-Tokyo flight (9800 - 33670 JPY forvehicle is expensive due to expenses for research, new822 km, costs for shoes, food etc. were ignored because the feefunctional materials and public relation cost. Sports bike iswas expensive and the travel time was short). Scooter and city

expensive because of expenses for research and new materials.

bike are cheaper and small car is almost the same. Costs for

Running and walking need foods whose production needs

them however become expensive considering ferry boat, tallmuch petroleum, water and land space. Public transportationroad, accommodation, foods etc. In particular, an 822 km trip

fee includes every cost such as purchase and maintain costs ofby scooter or city bike would not be practical. Consequently,cars, gas, salary for drivers and employees, insurance etc.

airplane and railway are practical ways for long trips with low
environmental impacts.
The author is not insisting to reduce environmental impacts

4. Concluding remarks
Costs for gasoline, electric and hybrid vehicles, scooter, city

by any means. The author rather hope that people who want toand sports bikes, walking, running and public transportation

walk walk and people who want to drive Land Rover drive

were calculated and compared. It was found that environmental

Land Rover. The author however does not hope that people

impact of scooter was significantly small. City bike and small

recommend or force others things with high environmental

car followed. That of big car was significantly severe. Those of

impacts by mistake or intentionally saying eco-friendly, earth

popular car, electric vehicle, hybrid vehicle, sports bike,friendly or something like that.

running, walking and public transportation were almost thesame or those of electric vehicles were slightly large and those

Referencesof running and walking were slightly small.

Fujii, Y. (2011 in Japanese), More Energy is Needed to Drive

Parking cost, commute allowance, maintenance cost, medial
cost reduced by walking, time saved by using cars, time wasted

Electric Vehicle than Hybrid Vehicle, Proc. MMIJ Fall
Meeting, (B), (C), pp. 161-162
Fujii, Y. (2013 in Japanese), It can't be Said that Environmental

calculation. It can be however at least said that it is a big

Impact of Walking is Smaller than Small Cars, Proc. MMIJmistake to think that for example environmental impact ofFall Meeting, pp. 350-351

180.0
160.0
140.0
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0

Fig. 1Comparison of cost to move by various methods.

Public trans.

Walking

RunningSports bike

City bike

Scooter

HV

EV (peak)EV (off peak)

Big carPopular car

Running cost
Annual cost
One time cost

Small car

Cost (JPY/km)

by traffic jams etc. can be considered in future for more precise