With a TCO tool (Total Cost of Ownership), taxi drivers can compare the full costs of owning a petrol/diesel taxi versus an electric one. CE Delft has developed such a tool for the City of Amsterdam, in Excel. You can download the file under ‘Documents’ and use it in Excel. The tool takes into account factors such as: how long a driver intends to use the taxi, how many kilometres it drives, and where it is charged. The costs calculated by the tool specifically apply to driving and charging within Amsterdam.
Our research shows that electric taxis are often cheaper than fuel-powered taxis, especially when comparing similar vehicles in terms of price, age, and size. Second-hand electric taxis are usually cheaper than second-hand fuel-powered taxis in the same segment. However, new electric taxis are often more expensive over time than second-hand fuel-powered ones, mainly due to their high purchase price. This is important, as there are still few electric models available in certain segments. We also looked at how factors such as annual mileage, purchase price, charging costs, and the period the taxi is in use affect overall costs. In many cases, electric taxis remain more cost-effective, but the benefits diminish. High charging prices, for instance for fast charging, can make electric taxis less advantageous compared to fuel-powered ones.
To calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) over the vehicle’s lifetime, we developed a TCO tool based on our model ‘COSTREAM’. This model by CE Delft calculates the TCO of various types of vehicles by combining information on vehicle pricing and usage. The report under ‘Documents’ explains how we developed the TCO tool specifically for taxis.