What is Mobile Combustion? Examples & How to Reduce It

Understanding the Types of Scope 1 Emissions

According to the GHG Protocol, Scope 1 emissions are defined as direct emissions from assets controlled by the company. These cover four important categories:

For a deeper understanding of each category, please refer to the following:

• Stationary Combustion: Emissions from the combustion of fuels by stationary machines (boilers, generators).
• Mobile Combustion: Emissions from the combustion of fuel by motor vehicles.
• Fugitive Emissions: Emissions from gas leaks (methane, refrigerants).
• Process Emissions: Emissions from chemical reactions in industrial processes.

Definition of Mobile Combustion

In efforts to calculate a company’s carbon footprint, emissions from vehicle activities are one of the main contributors to direct emissions. This is referred to as mobile combustion emission, which falls under Scope 1. Scope 1 includes all greenhouse gas emissions that originate from sources owned or controlled by the company, including the combustion of fuel from operational vehicles.

Mobile combustion includes:

• Fuel combustion by company cars, logistics trucks, heavy equipment.
• Vehicles powered by gasoline, diesel, or LPG.
• Fleets used directly by the company (not leased).

Examples of Emission Sources

Many companies are unaware that daily activities which may seem normal can actually cause significant environmental impact. Below are common examples of Scope 1 mobile combustion emission sources:

• Operational cars and motorcycles in the office
• Internal logistics transport trucks
• Heavy equipment used in construction or mining areas
• Forklifts or other fuel-powered machinery

It's important to note that leased vehicles or those controlled by third parties fall under Scope 3, not Scope 1.

Instantly Calculate Your Company’s Vehicle Emissions

Managing emissions from vehicle operations no longer needs to be complicated. With CarbonIQ, a platform by Jejakin, companies can instantly track carbon emissions from vehicles simply by entering basic data such as:

• Type of vehicle
• Type of fuel
• Fuel volume or travel distance

CarbonIQ will automatically calculate total emissions, provide comparative analysis, and present strategic insights for emission reduction—all in one easy-to-use dashboard.

Why Should It Be Measured and Reported?

Although small in scale operationally, emissions from company vehicle operations contribute significantly to total emissions, especially in logistics, construction, and service sectors. Due to their decentralized nature, mobile combustion emissions are often overlooked in inventories, even though reporting them is crucial.

Here are the reasons why mobile combustion emissions must be reported:

• Transparency in operational vehicle emissions: Provides a clear picture of energy consumption from fuel and internal transport efficiency.
• Basis for fleet electrification strategy: Reporting mobile combustion emissions forms the foundation for a low-carbon electric vehicle (EV) transition roadmap.
• ESG and GHG Protocol compliance: Scope 1 emissions from company-owned vehicles must be reported in standards such as CDP, GRI, and SBTi.
• Mapping operational costs based on emissions: Reporting helps link fuel consumption to energy costs and potential carbon tax.

How to Reduce It

After understanding the emission amount, the next step is to build a reduction strategy. Several actions that can be taken include:

• Fleet electrification: Replace fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs).
• Route optimization: Use GPS systems or logistics software to reduce inefficient travel distances.
• Biofuel: Test renewable fuels such as biodiesel.
• Eco-driving: Train drivers to drive efficiently and save fuel.
• Regular monitoring: Use dashboards like CarbonIQ to track real-time vehicle emission performance.

Conclusion

Fuel combustion from operational vehicles is an important part of a company's carbon footprint. By understanding, calculating, and reporting Scope 1 mobile combustion emissions accurately, companies not only fulfill reporting obligations, but also show a real commitment to sustainability.

Use tools like CarbonIQ to help make this process efficient, accurate, and integrated.