I catch a $7 return train to the office everyday. That’s $88,935 spent on getting to work in my lifetime, “enough to buy a 41m2 house in Bali!” Ford’s Commuter Calculator gleefully told me. There is no joy in knowing this information.
My half hour commute each way will total 1.4 years of my life. I can watch 6732 movies in that time, apparently, so that’s one good thing I suppose.
The calculator takes in information about what kind of transport you use, how much it costs and how long it takes, puts it all together in a wholly frightening set of figures with an indication of what a lifetime of travelling to work will set you back.
You can calculate your own figures here, but be warned, it’s not exactly uplifting.
There’s a loading bar that tells me I’m only 35 per cent of my way through my work (and commute life). I’m sick today. I’m not taking this news well.
So why are Ford doing this? Why torture us all with these wholly depressing numbers about how we are wasting our time and money? Ford is experimenting on smart solutions to make your commuter life easier, it says.
It’s all part of a transition to becoming an auto and a mobility company.
Ford is continuing to focus on and invest in its core business, it says, designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing cars, SUVs, trucks and electrified vehicles. But at the same time, the company is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities through “Ford Smart Mobility”.
Ford Smart Mobility is all about connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.
There’s also been a recent partnership with airport parking and car sharing service Carhood, supplying “dozens” of vehicles for hire at Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney airports. Alongside cars, the smart mobility company’s customers allow for hire in exchange for free parking and a share of rental profits.
You can scroll down after playing with the calculator to see other initiatives Ford it takling — such as mobility shuttles and multimodals, but the vast majority are in pilot stage in locations overseas.
So how did you guys go? How much time and money are you spending on commuting? Let us know in the comments!