Greenhouse Gas Abatement Costs for Employer-Subsidized Commuting Options
June 29, 2015
Providing workplace charging is one of the more effective ways for businesses to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their employees’ daily commute. Offering a bike purchase subsidy can be even more cost effective but may not be suitable for all employees. Transit subsidies may be a good option but there is a wide range of potential costs from $284 to $1,231 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The vanpool subsidy has the highest cost of the options shown potentially exceeding $2,000 per metric ton of CO2e.
Greenhouse Gas Abatement Costs for Selected Commuting Options (Dollars per Metric Ton of CO2e)
Greenhouse Gas Abatement Costs for Selected Commuting Options (Dollars per Metric Ton of CO2e)
| Commuting Options | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Bike Purchase Subsidy | $39 | $189 |
| Vanpool Subsidy | $1,270 | $2,040 |
| Transit Subsidy | $284 | $1,231 |
| L1 EVSE | $199 | $369 |
| L2 EVSE | $309 | $688 |
Notes
- L1 EVSE – Level 1 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment which supplies 120 volts.
- L2 EVSE – Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment which supplies 240 volts.
- CO2e – Carbon dioxide equivalent.
- See source for assumptions relating to these calculations.
Source
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Benefits of Workplace Charging,", accessed April 15, 2015.