Comment from Calin Saftoiu, Chief Executive Officer of DriveKey Corporation, which offers all-new Karai smartphone app (launched Spring 2022) to offset tailpipe carbon emissions in real-time via carbon offsetting schemes, alongside free-to-view eco-driving scores to assist drivers in understanding how to reduce their fuel usage.

“As the UK sees its hottest day on record*, I urge the UK population to not just take shade, drink water and stay cool, but to also think about the cause of the rising temperatures – climate change – and what they can do to take action against it by reducing their fuel consumption and as a direct result, their carbon footprint.

“By definition, climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures, but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats alongside rising seas, according to National Geographic**. The highs of 40 degrees in some UK locations we’re seeing right now should be a wake-up call for the issue of climate change and to look at internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles’ part to play.

“The transportation sector – passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles – is reported to be responsible for emitting more greenhouse gases than any other in the UK [and the USA], globally accounting for around a quarter of CO2 emissions***. Passenger cars are only a part of this, with the fleet sector also gathering pace with its CO2 pollution. Although some drivers and organisations are making the switch to electric [vehicles], I don’t think it’s enough to turn back the tide on climate change. So, my message is this: reduce how much you use and buy, thus negating the delivery trips, and be more mindful of the way you drive, and where you drive. Could you ease off the throttle instead of slamming the brakes? Could you accelerate with less rigour and still get to the same speed? If we [drivers of ICE vehicles] all do out bit and be mindful of fuel usage and offset our emissions [via carbon credits] we could prevent more damage.

“When I look at the future, I look at my two teenage boys [Calin’s children] and their future, rather than mine. I’m learning from them, leaning on them, and talking to them about the way that they travel – their mobility solutions, if you like. The many conversations that I had with my boys on this matter constitute the foundation of my desire to create Karai, a free app that helps drivers reduce their carbon footprint by driving more mindfully and environmentally friendly, and if they wish to, offset their carbon emissions through verified carbon credits, all at the touch of a button.

“When I was doing research for Karai, I found the average person in the UK has a carbon footprint of ten tonnes of CO2 a year, of which two tonnes come from travelling. For those who drive 10,000 miles a year, this adds a further four tonnes of CO2, which is significant. I knew that this had to change, and with the population gaining the tools to reduce their emissions, we could regain balance and thus stop the otherwise global carbon emissions increase.

“Today, Karai is available to download for free, and it’s proven to help drivers reduce their carbon emissions from their vehicles by up to 25 per cent by providing real-world eco-driving scores and advice. That real-world data is also given to drivers to evaluate their potential carbon emissions from driving their car alone and what real-world credits will offset those emissions to become carbon positive. We [Karai] do this via carbon offsetting schemes, which we [Karai] buy carbon credits from. Drivers can offset at home in the UK with rewilding schemes, for example, or opt to go further afield with worldwide credits and reforestation in the Amazon.

“We know that we [Karai] need to offer a solution for motorists with ICE cars that would lead to using less fuel and provide tips for economical driving to assist adjusting habits accordingly. If we are all mindful of our emissions with our ICE cars, we can slow down the damage caused by global warming and stop the rise in temperatures we’re seeing in the UK right now. Some experts say that it takes 30 days to make something a habit, and I think the most rewarding habit we can do right now is to cut down our emissions caused by our vehicles and, if we can, offset what we emit via carbon credits.”

Karai by DriveKey, available initially through the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/karai/id1599712040), is the only app that tracks vehicle carbon emissions in real-time, as well as giving eco driving behaviour scores and tips, based on actual driving data.

Created by leading vehicle Human-Machine Interface and vehicle technology specialists, Conjure Ltd for DriveKey Corporation, the Karai by DriveKey smartphone app uses Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data on any tailpipe emission-based registration on g/km carbon usage to calculate actual emissions. This, coupled with real-time driver data and behaviours, delivers transparent carbon emissions information. Currently geared towards motorists with internal combustion engines, Karai aims to provide drivers with options on how to offset their carbon emissions by either being carbon neutral or carbon positive.

Sources:
* https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1549345259016142848
** www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-effects  
*** https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200317-climate-change-cut-carbon-emissions-from-your-commute