Vehicle CO2 Emission Offsetting System And Method

• US 20100217535A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Seidel, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/24
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method of offsetting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions includes the steps of capturing CO2 emissions data from a vehicle, transmitting the emissions data to a data collection unit, which then stores collected CO2 data and prepares a CO2 emission report. The CO2 emission report is used in preparing a customized CO2 offsetting package, which is selected by a vehicle owner. The selected CO2 offsetting package offsets the CO2 emissions through purchased credits, which neutralize the CO2 released from the vehicle. The owner of the package is given a visual indicator exhibiting that the vehicle is currently carbon neutral.

Claims

1. A method to offset CO₂ emissions, comprising the steps of:

capturing CO₂ emissions data from a vehicle;

transmitting emissions data to a data collection unit, the data collection unit storing collected CO₂ emissions data;

preparing a CO₂ emission report using the collected data;

sharing the report with a vehicle owner;

offering a variety of CO₂ offsetting packages to offset the CO₂ emissions data; and

receiving credits by selecting a CO₂ offsetting package, the credits neutralizing CO₂ released from the vehicle.

2. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes analyzing CO₂ emissions through an on-board calculation module.

3. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 2, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes gauging an odometer reading.

4. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 3, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes estimating an odometer reading.

5. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes readings by a vehicle service center.

6. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 5, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes gauging an odometer reading.

7. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 5, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes estimating an odometer reading.

8. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 6, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data includes estimating CO₂ emissions through an odometer reading with a fuel emissions factor.

9. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data is performed for an individual vehicle owner.

10. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data is performed for a fleet of vehicles.

11. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 2, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data is performed real time.

12. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 2, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data is performed at a periodic interval.

13. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 12, wherein capturing the CO₂ emissions data is performed when the vehicle is serviced by a vehicle service center.

14. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the CO₂ emissions data through a vehicle CO₂ meter.

15. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, wherein transmitting the CO₂ emissions data includes use of a telematic infrastructure.

16. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 15, further comprising the step of performing telematics through wireless data communication between the vehicle and the data collection unit.

17. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, wherein transmitting the CO₂ emissions data is performed using a computer link.

18. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 5, wherein transmitting the CO₂ emissions data is performed by the vehicle service center.

19. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 15, further comprising the step of performing vehicle telematics through wireless data communication.

20. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of registering and storing of emissions data by the data collection unit;

21. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of detailing actual CO₂ emissions production.

22. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 21, further comprising the step of generating a brand specific fleet CO₂ balance sheet.

23. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 21, further comprising the step of calculating of a brand specific fuel consumption report.

24. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the CO₂ emissions report on a periodic basis.

25. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting the CO₂ emissions report to a vehicle owner.

26. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting the CO₂ emissions report to a fleet owner.

27. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting the CO₂ emissions at a scheduled time.

28. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting the CO₂ emissions report through a postal service.

29. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 24, further comprising the step of transmitting the CO₂ emissions report electronically.

30. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing status feedback on selected CO₂ compensation package.

31. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, further comprising the step of providing status feedback on a periodic basis.

32. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, further comprising the step of providing status feedback when the credits run-out.

33. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, further comprising the step of providing status feedback when the credits fall below a limit.

34. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, further comprising the step of customizing the credit limit.

35. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, further comprising the step of providing feedback of the progress of a project defined by the selected CO₂ offsetting package.

36. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, wherein feedback is displayed through an on-board display.

37. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 30, wherein feedback is displayed through a mobile CE device.

38. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of accessing CO₂ compensation package status on selected CO₂ compensation package.

39. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating that CO₂ emissions have been neutralized.

40. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 39, further comprising the step of signaling that CO₂ emissions have been neutralized with a visual indicator.

41. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 40, further comprising the step of signaling that CO₂ emissions have been neutralized with a certificate.

42. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of temporary storing data in an on-board device.

43. The method to offset CO₂ emissions of claim 1, further comprising the step of temporary storing data in a mobile CE device.

44. A CO₂ emissions offsetting system, comprising:

a vehicle emissions measuring device that captures CO₂ emissions data;

a transmission device to send collected data to a data collection unit, the unit having databases to store incoming data;

a CO₂ emission report generated by the data collection unit and shared with a owner of the vehicle;

a variety of CO₂ offsetting programs offered to the vehicle owner, a selected CO₂ compensation package that offsets the CO₂ emissions through purchased credits.

45. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the vehicle emissions measuring device is an on-board calculation module.

46. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 45, wherein the vehicle emissions measuring device is an odometer.

47. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the vehicle emissions measuring device is a vehicle service center calculation module.

48. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the vehicle emissions measuring device captures CO₂ emissions data for an individual vehicle owner.

49. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the vehicle emissions measuring device captures CO₂ emissions data for a fleet of vehicles.

50. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the vehicle emissions measuring device captures CO₂ emissions data during real time.

51. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the vehicle emissions measuring device captures CO₂ emissions data per drive.

52. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the vehicle emissions measuring device captures CO₂ emissions data over at specified period of time.

53. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 52, wherein the CO₂ emissions data is captured at a periodic interval.

54. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 52, wherein the CO₂ emissions data is captured when the vehicle is serviced at a vehicle service center.

55. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the CO₂ emissions data is displayed using a vehicle CO₂ meter.

56. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the transmission device is a vehicle transmission device that is part of a telematic infrastructure, the telematic infrastructure capable of sending and receiving CO₂ emissions data.

57. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the telematic infrastructure sends and receives CO₂ emissions data from a vehicle transmission device to data collection unit databases.

58. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 57, wherein the telematic infrastructure is a wireless data communication between the vehicle and the data collection unit.

59. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 57, wherein the telematic infrastructure is a computer link between the vehicle and the data collection unit.

60. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the transmission device is a vehicle service center transmission device, the vehicle service center transmission device being a part of a telematic infrastructure which is capable of sending and receiving CO₂ emissions data.

61. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 60, wherein the telematic infrastructure sends and receives CO₂ emissions data from a service center transmission device to a data collection unit database.

62. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 61, wherein the telematic infrastructure is a telematics infrastructure using wireless data communication.

63. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, wherein the data collection unit database stores registration and emissions data.

64. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 63, wherein the emissions data stored is actual CO₂ emissions data.

65. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 63, wherein the emissions data stored is estimated CO₂ emissions data.

66. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the CO₂ emission report includes a brand specific fuel consumption report.

67. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the CO₂ emission report includes a individual vehicle owner CO₂ balance sheet.

68. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the CO₂ emission report includes a brand specific fleet CO₂ balance sheet.

69. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the CO₂ emission report is a periodic CO₂ emission report.

70. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the CO₂ emission report is a paper CO₂ emission report.

71. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, the CO₂ emission report is an electronic CO₂ emission report.

72. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, further comprising a status report on the selected CO₂ compensation package.

73. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is a recurring paper report.

74. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is a recurring electronic report.

75. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is a virtual report accessed through a website.

76. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is provided when the credits run-out.

77. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is provided when the credits fall below a limit.

78. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 77, wherein the credit limit is a customized credit limit.

79. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 77, wherein the credit limit is a pre-determined credit limit.

80. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report includes feedback of the progress of a project defined by the selected CO₂ offsetting package.

81. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is displayed through an on-board display.

82. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 72, wherein the status report is displayed through a mobile CE device.

83. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 44, further comprising an indicator that signals that the vehicle CO₂ emissions have been neutralized through the selected CO₂ offsetting package.

84. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 83, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

85. The CO₂ emissions offsetting system of claim 83, wherein the indicator is a certificate.