When Does it Actually Pay Off to Switch to Electric Trucks? Analysis of the New TCO Cost Comparison Calculator

For freight forwarders, companies, and municipal fleet operators, deciding between diesel and electric drives is currently one of the most important investment questions. The new online tools from the Climate Protection and Energy Agency of Baden-Württemberg (KEA-BW)—the cost comparison calculator and the e-truck fact check—now provide free and neutral assistance in understanding the real costs and potentials.

Two New Online Tools for Transparency

Making an investment decision in the current market environment is no easy task for fleet owners. To ease this process, KEA-BW has immediately made available two practical, free, and completely neutral online tools: an e-truck cost comparison calculator (Kostenvergleichsrechner für Elektro-Lkw) and an e-truck fact check (Faktencheck E-Lkw). In connection with the launch of these decision-support tools, Julian Lotz, Specialist Reference for Electromobility at KEA-BW, explained in an interview given to the Stuttgart radio station “Die Neue 107.7” how companies can evaluate their individual situations using the calculator and under what conditions switching to electric trucks becomes economically sensible.

How the Cost Comparison Calculator Works

The primary goal of the cost comparison calculator is to create transparency based on the user’s individual parameters. The operating mechanism and configuration options of the tool are structured as follows:

• The user must input their own individual data into the system, such as annual mileage, energy and diesel prices, and specific vehicle costs.

• Based on the entered numbers, the tool calculates the total operating costs over the entire period of use, i.e., the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

• In addition to the pure purchase price, the model takes into account the costs of energy, maintenance, insurance, tolls, taxes, and the residual value of the vehicle.

• To help users quickly grasp the topic, two built-in, pre-configured scenarios are available: one focuses on long-haul transport (Fernverkehr) and the other on regional transport.

• Those who wish to delve deeper can use the advanced settings to further refine the formula, where different leasing models can be specified, greenhouse gas quotas (THG quota) can be taken into account, and different electricity prices for depot charging versus public charging points can be differentiated.

Concrete Figures and Results: The Example of Long-Haul Transport

The calculator is capable of providing very concrete quantitative data and results based on the entered parameters. A specific long-haul transport example from the system shows the following costs:

• The per-kilometer cost of an electric truck comes out to approximately 1.08 euros.

• The cost of a diesel truck in the same segment is 1.21 euros per kilometer.

According to the article, the main reason for this difference is that electricity in long-haul transport is nearly one-third cheaper than diesel. However, it is important to emphasize that the final break-even calculation heavily depends on exactly how the given business uses the truck—and the calculator takes precisely this individual profile into account.

Fact Check Module (Faktencheck) for All Other Questions

Alongside the calculator, the fact check module (“Faktencheck E-Lkw”) provides additional neutral, objective information on the most important questions surrounding the technology:

• It provides insight into where the technology currently stands and what realistically expected ranges are.

• It maps out the current status of the charging infrastructure expansion.

• It specifically addresses the critical areas of safety and occupational health and safety, as well as outlining the concrete steps required to convert a fleet.

• It assists in assessing whether a company’s own operational profile can already be covered by a battery-electric truck today.

References and official access:

The services are provided by KEA-BW, the official Climate Protection and Energy Agency of the State of Baden-Württemberg (operating as a state central organization).

• Original source underlying the article: https://www.kea-bw.de/news/wann-lohnt-sich-der-umstieg-auf-elektro-lkw-wirklich

• Direct access to the E-Truck Cost Comparison Calculator: https://www.kea-bw.de/Elektro-LKW-Kostenrechner

• The Fact Check (Faktencheck) interface: https://www.kea-bw.de/faktencheck-e-lkw