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T&E’s heavy-duty vehicle TCO calculator explained

This Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator allows to economically compare long-haul heavy-duty trucks purchased by a medium-sized enterprise in 2026, 2028, and 2030.

Interactive policy scenario levers

Users can simulate the direct impact of national policies on the TCO of zero-emission trucks. There are seven different policy measures that can be adjusted.

For all subsidy-based variables below, only schemes that were in force at the time of publication are included.

  • Vehicle purchase subsidies: several countries have subsidies in place to promote e-truck sales. However, such subsidies cost taxpayer money and can backfire by leading to higher purchase prices. As a result, other measures can be more effective.

  • Charging infrastructure subsidies: these can cover charging equipment and/or installation costs.

  • REDIII energy credits for depot chargers: extending REDIII electricity credits to depot charging can lower electricity costs for e-trucks

  • Electricity grid cost reductions: lower grid costs through lower network charges or lower taxes and levies (or both) can bring down electricity prices for e-truck owners

  • ETS2 implementation: from 2028, fuel prices should include a CO2 price. Germany already has one in place.

  • CO2-based road tolls: with the 2022 Eurovignette reform, truck tolls in the EU must either vary with vehicle CO2 emission class (where zero-emission trucks are granted a 50–75% exemption, temporarily up to 100%) or include a CO2 charge, or both.

  • Diesel fuel excise recuperation: several countries allow transport operators to recover part of fuel excise duty, thus promoting diesel consumption. Financial support should instead incentivise electrification, thus reducing the sector’s dependence on volatile oil markets.

  • Diesel premium: the tool allows users to include a diesel premium of 20% in 2026–27. Fuel prices significantly increased since March 2026, following the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. This premium only applies to diesel fuel.

Model assumptions

The tool models TCO over a first ownership period of five years. Annual distance is 116,000 km for 5-LH trucks and 107,000 km for 10-LH trucks. All future costs are subject to discounting, assuming a discount rate of 9.5% reflecting transport operators’ preference for earlier savings.

Vehicle prices in 2026 are based on literature and contacts with truck dealerships. For future years, diesel truck prices are projected based on previous work assuming higher costs due to lower economies of scale and investments in less polluting diesel engines. For B100, truck prices are assumed to cost slightly more than diesel trucks due to their specific engine. For electric trucks, battery prices are projected to decline according to BloombergNEF’s forecast.

We assume SMEs purchase trucks through loans, assuming a 15% downpayment in the first year. Residual value after five years is assumed to be 35% of pre-subsidy, pre-tax purchase price.

Energy consumption data comes from manufacturer information as well as official data from the European Environment Agency. AdBlue consumption is assumed to be 6% of fuel consumption.

Charging infrastructure costs (both equipment and installation) are based on data from the Netherlands. We assume a 150-kW charger is used overnight by two electric trucks. Installation costs are adjusted to labour costs by industry in the different countries.

For both vehicle purchases and depot charging infrastructure, subsidies are only included if they are in force at the time of publication—schemes close to expiry at that time are excluded. Vehicle registration and ownership taxes were collected from government websites and included where applicable. Insurance costs are equal to 2.14% of vehicle pre-tax purchase price. Maintenance costs excluding AdBlue consumption and trailer tyres are estimated at €202618.6/100km for diesel and HVO, €202619.7/100km for B100, and €202612.8/100km for battery-electric trucks.

Road tolls are based on currently applicable rates as available on government websites. 75% of truck mileage is assumed to occur on motorways. The tolled share of the motorway network depends on the country.

Diesel prices are based on average price in 2025 excluding VAT and take partial excise duty recuperation into account. Projected CO2 prices under ETS2 were obtained from Veyt. Electricity prices at depots assume consumers are in band IC (500–1,999 MWh) and exclude VAT. Electricity credits for private charging under REDIII are included in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. 20% of electricity consumed is assumed to come from public charging.