Rationale behind the Car Sharing Cost

Car Sharing Cost
The car sharing cost is determined by the committee and is based on a cents value for each kilometre that each passenger travels, with the distance rounded up or down to the nearest 10km, with cost then rounded up or down to the nearest dollar. As at the end of 2022, the value was 15c per kilometre.

Example: The distance from Nowra to the Steamers Beach carpark is 39.27km, giving a round trip of 78.54km which is rounded up to 80 kilometres. At 15c per kilometre, the cost per passenger is $12. The cost can be reduced by mutual agreement for longer trips i.e. outside the Shoalhaven.

The underlying argument is that the driver should not have to contribute to fuel costs provided he or she has two or more passengers. Then, assuming that few cars use more than 12.5 litres per 100km, the calculations should be based on that level of consumption. If the car is more fuel-efficient, then the driver benefits more. The price of unleaded fuel was used as the benchmark, as this is what is most commonly used. It would be too complicated to set different figures for premium petrol or diesel fuel as well.

Below is a chart of the approximate break-even trigger points ...

Fuel Price per litre	Cost per passenger	Cost for 2 passengers	Amount Collected per 100km with 2 passengers	Cost of fuel per 100km @ 12.5 litres per 100km
$1.60	10c	20c	$20	$20.00
$1.70	11c	22c	$22	$21.25
$1.80	12c	24c	$24	$22.50
$1.90	12c	24c	$24	$23.75
$2.00	13c	26c	$26	$25.00

Therefore, when the average price of fuel exceeds $1.60 per litre, the club should raise the price per passenger to 11 cents; when it passes $1.70 - 12 cents and when it passes $1.90 - 13 cents. The price should not drop below 10 cents because any big fall in fuel prices is always likely to be very temporary.

Of course, with 3 or more passengers, there is a reasonable "profit" to be made and free transport for the driver remains the rule - a great incentive to take more passengers, not to mention all the consequential environmental benefits that flow.

The calculation does not take into account other costs that must be borne by the drivers - such as registration, insurance, maintenance and cleaning costs.