I usually compute it this way:

total km/100 x 8L/100km x 1.8 CHF/L

where the 8 is for an average gas consumption of 8 liters per 100km (this may vary depending on the car and the trip [motorway, mountain road, ...] and 1.8 is more or less the current price of a liter of gas (change this if your car is diesel)

Then I divide the total by the number of people in the car - 1; after all, I am paying all the fix costs of the car and making the effort to drive, so I think it is only fair that the passangers pay for the gas on their own.

So for your example it would turn out to be:

1,88 x 8 x 1,75 = 27,072 CHF

Divided by 3 (driver + 3 passangers in the car), about 9 CHF to be paid by each passanger.

So it turns out to be much less than using your method! ... maybe I should change to yours ... :D

In Switzerland, if you put your car available for your work, your company pays the minumum 0.50 ct / km.

Apart from the cost of gas, you have all the other expenses and they are many!

I think asking for a ride 20 .- Lausanne - Sion is a good deal for passengers.

The train for the same trip: 58 .- is the normal price 29 .- if you have the half-fare.

Then everyone can do the discounts they want!

hmmmm ....... maybe next time I will book a place in your car :o)

My method is just precise to compute the cost of gas. I didn't really know how to take into account other expenses in a fair way.

If you want to complicate your life you could do something like this:

a) use my method to compute the cost of gas

b) take all the bills from your car from previous year (inssurance, maintenance, control antipollution, etc, etc), add them up, divide by the total number of kms you drove in the last year. Then you can compute the approx fix cost corresponding to the kms of the ride and add it to the gas price.

Of course, I am joking :DD, far too complicated!!! ... 0.5 CHF/km is a simple rule of thumb, but it would be good to hear what other people are doing.

P.S.: I just found out that EPFL pays 0.6 CHF/km if you use your own car for traveling for professional reasons, http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/1/172.220.113.43.fr.pdf, Art. 4

Please dont forget that passengers provide entertainment and company on these long journeys. This should be compensated for by the driver - I suggest a nominal fee of 10CHF per journey (if they bring a few CDs then the fee should be 15CHF)

Also neither method takes into consideration the effects of the gravitational pull of the moon. For example during a full moon there will be a stronger gravitational pull and therefore you your car will be lighter and use less fuel.  This should definatly be factored in otherwise you are just not being fair.

Or you could just organise/attend hikes that use public transport - but then, by the principles above, if someone has a GA, you should ask them to "train pool" for those who have to pay full fare?  Don't be daft!

If the driver is "going anyway" then they are choosing to drive, and any extra petrol money is a bonus - its shouldn't be a calculated "profit". 

Surely everyone's grown up to decide if they're driving, do they want the extra company and ergo the extra cash, therefore they post it on the board.

Or they decide they want to play Guns 'n' Roses all the way, full volume - in which case, they don't advertise that they're driving.

Its different in all circumstances and you can't apply "one rule for all". 

Some have a company car (no wear and tear) but have to pay for their petrol.  Some have a company car and petrol paid for (lucky buggers).  Some are on chomage, but drive gas guzzlers out of choice - would the same calculation apply?  Some can afford to be egalitarian and always drive, always fill their car with folks and just ask for a beer at the end of the day.  Some prefer not to drink and drive and would appreciate a contribution.

Usually what goes around, comes around and if someone is continually sponging, then the "sorry car full" on the board will always work.

Kerching! - that's the sound of my 2 cents being dropped into the car pool discussion

oooh I love Guns n Roses. Which event do I need to sign up to to get that car share.

Carolyn, because you are my friend, i suggess you should reread what you wrote ....

  I created this topic because some peoples have asked me how to calculate the price of a car sharing in Swiss.
I wrote what is generally applied in industry, enterprise or in other hiking groups.
this calculation does not generate profit. (What is this idea?!?)

Obviously each situation is unique ! I think everyone had understood

I am surprised, you're sure you really wanted to write what you wrote?

Have a nice day :o)

@ Dominic A :

When my next hike is on full moon, i make a discount for car sharing because the effects of the gravitation ! I like this Idea ! LOL

Have a nice day :o)

Christophe - because you are my friend I apologise profusely if you think the "profit" comment was directed at you.  That was NOT the intention at all - but I DO know some people who organise trips and charge outrageous amounts for car pooling. 

I also know some people on chomage who charge the bare minimum or nothing at all.

But it can't be compared to the train cost as some trips are "car only" and people who have spent CHF 3,300 on a GA may not see it as such a bargain.

If I car pool, I always offer some money and calculate it appropriate to how far we've driven and obviously, how many are in the car.  Its always worked without any need for mathematical calculations.

My only concern is, by posting all the various calculations in the forum, is that people may think (as you are a well respected organiser) - "well, that's what Christophe says, so that's what I'm going to charge", regardless of the circumstances.

Anyway, this has been discussed to death on various forums and the outcome is always the same.  Namely, ask/receive what everyone agrees is reasonable under the circumstances.

So yes, I did want to write what I wrote, but I apologise again if it was misinterpreted or miscontrued.

OK, thanks. But watch out for them werewolfs.