
the efficiency of a car
According to my car's computer, I drive 20,000 km annually at an average speed of 58 km/h. This means that I can get from home to my destinations relatively quickly throughout the year. However, this is not the whole story, as there are also expenses for fuel, insurance, depreciation and repairs, so in addition to the time spent travelling, I also spend a lot of time earning money just to keep the car running. According to calculations by Fagbladet 3F, it actually costs 4.18 kr/km to keep a car running, which means I have to spend extra time earning money. In recent years, I have had an average income of around 100 kr/hour after tax. This means that I actually spend over 2,000 working hours a year keeping the car running because I earn so little. When I add it all up, my car actually only runs at 16.9 kr/km, which is significantly slower than if I cycled the 20,000 kr. Of course, it depends a lot on what you earn, so if you earn £20 per hour after tax, you get up to 26.2 km/h, which is roughly the same as on an electric bike. According to the Danish Health Authority, you should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, which you don't get in a car, nor at my job or most other jobs. Motorists are therefore burdened with an additional cost in the form of time for exercise. This brings the average speed down to 21.4 km/h if you earn £20 per hour after tax. According to figures from 3F, an electric car is slightly cheaper to run, at £3.83 per km, bringing the average speed up to 22.2 km/h. However, this is only a calculation for individual finances. Cars also burn fuel, which has an impact on the climate, and motorways and car parks have to be built, which are paid for by taxpayers, including those who cycle and use public transport, so in societal terms, the real average speed of car traffic is lower. When will I get my act together and give up the car, and when will we as a society start prioritising alternatives to car traffic as a transport solution? The maths doesn't add up for either society or the individual.
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