Assessing the total cost of ownership (TCO) is essential when deciding to procure any commercial vehicle, especially when you are interested in zero- and near-zero emission (ZNZE) vehicles. CALSTART, the Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero^TM lead, has developed a Total Cost of Ownership Estimator for the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). This California HVIP TCO Estimator is built to compare the TCO of medium- and heavy-duty, ZNZE vehicles to vehicles of the same type using baseline fuels: gasoline, diesel, and compressed natural gas. Based on the inputs that the user chooses, it provides an estimated payback period for the upfront cost of the ZNZE vehicle that is above and beyond the upfront cost of the baseline vehicle, based on operating cost savings, if any. It also provides a breakdown of itemized costs over the service life of both vehicles.

The California HVIP TCO Estimator is limited to the vehicle types, fuel types, and incentive programs eligible in the California HVIP program, and it is limited to USA-based units of measurement. CALSTART is working to develop a TCO Estimator that is more international in scope, which would serve Drive to Zero stakeholders and provide them with the flexibility to assess TCO regardless of their geographic location.

Visit and use the California HVIP TCO Estimator here