VDI Australia - Advanced TCO Calculator

Shared Parameters

State

Fuel Price ($/L)

Electricity Price ($/kWh)

Annual KM

Ownership (Years)

Fleet Size

Annual Inflation (%)

Vehicles: 2

Report Details

Customer Name

Prepared By (Salesperson)

Notes for Report

Interactive Sensitivity Analysis

Adjust the sliders below to see real-time TCO changes for each vehicle.

Real-time TCO Comparison

Cumulative Cost Over Time

Comparison Pair

Choose which two vehicles to compare in break-even, tornado, Monte Carlo, and pair-specific report sections.

Calculate TCO first to choose a comparison pair.

Break-even Analysis

Optimistic / Base / Pessimistic Scenarios

Three scenarios applying consistent assumption shifts across all vehicles. Useful for understanding which option is most resilient to changing conditions.

Calculate TCO first to see scenario comparison.

Tornado Chart — TCO Sensitivity

Which inputs most influence the comparison? Wider bars = higher sensitivity to that variable. Amber bars cross zero, meaning a change in that input could flip which vehicle wins.

Calculate TCO first to see the tornado chart.

Monte Carlo Simulation

Runs the TCO calculation 1,000 times, each time using slightly randomised inputs (fuel price, electricity, annual km, inflation) to simulate real-world uncertainty. Instead of a single estimate, you get a distribution of likely outcomes.

How to read the results:

% cheaper by end: The share of 1,000 simulations where the lower-cost vehicle remains cheaper across the full period.

P10 break-even: In the most favourable 10% of scenarios, break-even is reached by this year.

P50 break-even (median): Half of all simulations reach break-even by this year — the most realistic middle estimate.

P90 break-even: Even in 90% of scenarios, break-even occurs by this year — a conservative upper bound.

Histogram: Each bar is a range of TCO outcomes. Blue bars = higher-cost vehicle is still ahead. Green bars = lower-cost vehicle has already overtaken.

Calculate TCO first to run the simulation.

Cost Breakdown Analysis

Environmental Impact Analysis

TCO 101: A Guide for Fleet Operators

When evaluating bus procurement options, focusing solely on the upfront purchase price is a common but costly mistake. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) provides a more accurate financial picture by accounting for all costs associated with operating and maintaining a bus over its service life. This guide shows you how to use this calculator to build a reliable TCO model.

Key Cost Categories

Acquisition Cost: The method of purchase (Paid in Full vs. Financed) determines the initial outlay. This should include on-road costs
Financing Costs: Total interest paid over the loan term, plus any final balloon payment. This is $0 if Paid in Full.
Fuel / Energy Costs: Based on consumption rates (L/100km or kWh/100km), annual distance, and energy prices. Ensure to input AdBlue price and consumption rate (average is ~5% of diesel consumption).
Maintenance & Repairs: Scheduled servicing and projected unscheduled repairs. For EVs, this includes battery health and potential replacement. Please double check servicing schedules in the pop-out menu.
Operating Costs: Annual insurance, registration, compliance inspections. Tyres and consumables are to be included in the servicing schedule.
Residual Value: The estimated resale value of the bus at the end of the ownership period. This is subtracted from the total cost. Leave blank if not known.
Rebates & Incentives: Government grants or other rebates that reduce the initial cost.

Using the Calculator

Start by entering the Shared Parameters that apply to all vehicles. Then, enter each vehicle name and the commercial and operating assumptions you want to test. Select the purchase method: "Financed" to enter loan details, or "Paid in Full" for a cash purchase. Add servicing events in the pop-out schedule editor, then click "Calculate TCO" to see a detailed breakdown and switch to the Analysis and Environmental tabs to explore the data further.

Print-ready report view

Use the Print button or Ctrl+P. Set page margins to "None" or "Minimum" for best results.

TCO Calculator Disclaimer

Advanced TCO Calculator