Electric vs Diesel TCO Calculator
Compare the total cost of ownership of a battery electric truck against a diesel equivalent over the full vehicle life. Select currency, truck type, and use case below. Default values are indicative only — replace with current values from your region.
Disclaimer: Indicative planning tool only. Consult a qualified fleet finance specialist before making capital investment decisions.
Calculation context
Cumulative cost over time
Total accumulated cost including purchase price and operating costs.
Cumulative saving by year
Electric is ahead by R3.4M by end of comparison period.
TCO Optimizer
Slide to adjust key variables and watch the cost curves update in real time.
Diesel
Electric
TCO Summary
Number of trucks in fleet
Scales cost savings and CO₂ emissions saved
Diesel TCO
R13.2M
R 15.74/km
Electric TCO
R9.8M
R 11.66/km
Environmental impact
Tailpipe CO₂ saved (lifetime, per truck)
1.11 Mt CO₂e
Diesel fuel consumed × 3.48 kg CO₂e per litre
Diesel truck — detailed inputs
Typical 6×4 tractor-trailer combination
Operating profile
Finance
Operating costs
Electric truck — detailed inputs
Battery electric equivalent
Operating profile
Finance
Operating costs
Year-by-year costs
Comparison runs for 7 years.
| Year | Diesel | Electric | Cumul. saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y1 | R 1,832,728 | R 1,683,608 | R -50,880 |
| Y2 | R 1,899,760 | R 1,694,360 | +R 154,520 |
| Y3 | R 1,970,814 | R 1,705,327 | +R 420,007 |
| Y4 | R 2,046,131 | R 1,716,514 | +R 749,624 |
| Y5 | R 2,125,967 | R 1,727,924 | +R 1,147,668 |
| Y6 | R 1,682,066 | R 730,554 | +R 2,099,180 |
| Y7(D)(E) | R 1,771,770 | R 742,425 | +R 3,128,524 |
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TAG works with fleet operators across Africa to design structured electric truck pilots — from vehicle selection and route analysis to charging infrastructure and driver training. Turn this model into a funded business case.
Talk to TAG about a pilot →Ready to explore electric truck deployment for your fleet? TAG can help you build a business case, identify pilot opportunities, and connect with the right ecosystem partners.
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