Trip Economics: Calculating Fuel Costs
Whether you are planning a cross-country road trip, managing a logistics fleet, or splitting gas money with friends, predicting exact fuel expenditure is vital for budgeting.
MPG vs L/100km
Fuel efficiency is measured differently worldwide. In the US, it is Miles Per Gallon (MPG) — a higher number is better. In Europe and most metric countries, it is Liters per 100 Kilometers (L/100km) — a lower number is better. In India, it is simply Kilometers Per Liter (km/l).
The Math Behind the Cost
To calculate the cost manually: divide your total distance by your vehicle's fuel efficiency (to find total fuel needed), then multiply by the cost of fuel per unit. Formula: (Distance ÷ Efficiency) × Price. Factoring in a 10% buffer for traffic idling and AC usage yields a highly accurate budget.