The purchase price of an electric commercial vehicle is usually higher than a diesel one. Judging on price alone misses most of the picture. Total cost of ownership (TCO) adds up every cost over the vehicle's working life, and for many logistics duties it is where electric vehicles make their case.
What goes into TCO
| Cost | Diesel | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | Lower | Higher, though incentives may apply |
| Energy per km | Diesel fuel | Electricity, usually much cheaper per km |
| Maintenance | Engine, oil, filters, exhaust systems | Fewer moving parts, less routine servicing |
| Charging or fuelling infrastructure | Usually public fuel stations | Depot chargers and grid connection |
| Financing and insurance | Established | Improving as the market matures |
| Residual value | Well known | Less certain, depends on battery health |
A simple way to compare
For each option, add the purchase price, plus energy cost per km multiplied by kilometres over the vehicle's life, plus maintenance, plus infrastructure share, minus expected resale value. Divide by total kilometres to get a cost per km you can compare directly.
The more kilometres a vehicle drives, the more the lower running costs of electric vehicles offset their higher purchase price. High-utilisation duties usually reach parity first.
What tips the balance
- Daily distance: high and predictable distances favour electric.
- Charging cost: depot charging at off-peak or solar-hour tariffs lowers energy cost per km.
- Utilisation: vehicles that run multiple shifts benefit most.
- Incentives and policy: purchase incentives and charging subsidies change the numbers; check what applies at the time of purchase.
Do the analysis with your own data
Use your actual routes, fuel bills, maintenance records and electricity tariff. Generic figures can mislead because costs vary widely by duty and location.
How PxT can help
PxT Energies helps fleet operators model charging costs and infrastructure as part of a TCO comparison, using real duty cycles and local electricity tariffs.