How many km is 1 ecomile worth? Conversion rates explained

One of the most common questions from people starting out with Ecomilhas is a simple one: how many kilometres do I need to log to earn 1 ecomile? The answer is straightforward — and, better still, it is transparent and auditable. Every ecomile represents real climate impact.

1 ecomile = 1 kg of CO₂e avoided

At Ecomilhas, the currency is not arbitrary: 1 ecomile equals 1 kg of CO₂e that you did not emit by choosing a low-carbon trip instead of a combustion car on the same route. In other words, your balance is, literally, your contribution to the climate — not a stray point in a loyalty programme.

The maths is simple: distance × mode rate

For every kilometre travelled cleanly, Ecomilhas calculates how much CO₂e you avoided compared to a private combustion car taking the same route. That rate sits at around 0.18 to 0.2 kg of CO₂e per km. The formula is:

distance travelled (km) × mode rate (kg CO₂e/km) = ecomiles earned

These figures are audited by an independent third party — primary data, not a spreadsheet estimate.

In practice: about 5 km per ecomile

With a rate of approximately 0.2 kg CO₂e/km, the maths works out like this:

• ~5 km of clean travel ≈ 1 ecomile
• ~2.5 km ≈ 0.5 ecomile
• ~500 m ≈ 0.1 ecomile (the minimum a trip needs to count)

Cycled 10 km to work? That is about 2 ecomiles — in other words, 2 kg of CO₂e that never reached the atmosphere.

How much each trip earns

Each individual trip earns from 0.1 up to 2 ecomiles. Very short trips (under ~500 m) do not count, and a single trip never exceeds ~2 ecomiles — a cap that also helps Emília, our anti-fraud AI, keep the database reliable. Made several trips in one day? They all add up to your balance.

Why the rate varies

The conversion rate changes according to two factors:

• The mode — walking, cycling, bus, train, electric or carpooling all have different footprints, so the savings per km differ too.
• The territory — carbon intensity factors vary by region, and Ecomilhas uses specific parameters for each one.

That is why the same trip can earn a little more or a little less depending on where and how you travel.

Why this matters

The maths is beautiful precisely because it is honest: every ecomile on your card is 1 kg of CO₂e that the planet never received. For the company, that same number becomes auditable Scope 3 data, ready for the GHG Protocol, CDP and CSRD. For you, it becomes balance on your Mastercard. The more you travel cleanly, the more real impact — and the more reward.