EV Planning Resources: Cost Analysis
This section compiles resources and tools for EV infrastructure planning and implementation. Resources are organized by subject area and are labeled with resource type—namely, calculators and software, datasets and maps, and additional guidance and reference.
EV Charging Financial Analysis Tool
Atlas Public Policy – Calculator/Software
A sophisticated Microsoft Excel-based tool that performs a detailed financial analysis of owning and operating EV charging stations. Allows users to evaluate various business arrangements including P3s. Generates a summary dashboard as well as sensitivity analyses and financial accounting statements.
Access the EV Charging Financial Analysis Tool.
Dashboard for Rapid Vehicle Electrification (DRVE) Tool
Electrification Coalition –Calculator/Software
Microsoft Excel-based tool that helps users compare their existing conventional fleet vehicles with EV alternatives. Outputs include cost of ownership and emissions based on the regional electric grid. Users can customize the market, charging, and procurement settings to explore different scenarios.
Access the Dashboard for Rapid Vehicle Electrification (DRVE) Tool.
Vehicle and Infrastructure Cash-Flow Evaluation (VICE) Battery Electric Bus Model
NREL – Calculator/Software
Microsoft Excel-based tool to help bus fleet operators determine the cost and payback period of battery electric buses (BEB) and charging infrastructure. Considers the acquisition, fuel, maintenance, and operation costs of a baseline diesel bus fleet and an alternative BEB fleet with EVSE. Provides default input values that users can further customize.
Access the Vehicle and Infrastructure Cash-Flow Evaluation (VICE) Battery Electric Bus Model.
Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) Tool
Argonne National Laboratory – Calculator/Software
A tool to calculate the economic and environmental costs and benefits of alternative fuel vehicles including EVs. Estimates petroleum use, emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, and cost of ownership for a variety of vehicle types. Includes a function to calculate payback on EV infrastructure and incorporates EV charging infrastructure into calculations of total cost of ownership for fleets. AFLEET is available as both an online tool and a Microsoft Excel file.
Access the Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) Tool.
JOBS Model
Argonne National Laboratory - Calculator/Software
Spreadsheet-based tools to estimate the economic impacts of deploying alternative fuel equipment and infrastructure, including EV charging stations. Users can estimate economic impacts at the state, multistate, or national level. The tools provide default input values but users are encouraged to supply their own project-specific data for more accurate results.
Costs and Emissions Appraisal Tool for Transit Buses
World Resources Institute – Calculator/Software
Microsoft Excel-based tool to help bus operators assess the costs and emissions reductions from a transition to alternative fuel fleets. Considers financing, capital, infrastructure, overhaul, maintenance, fuel, and operations costs as well as several greenhouse gases and EPA criteria pollutants. Users can input their own fuel and fleet data or use the built-in defaults.
Access the Costs and Emissions Appraisal Tool for Transit Buses.
Financial Analysis of Battery Electric Transit Buses (2020)
NREL - Guidance/Reference
Report and example analysis to help transit bus fleet managers perform an initial screen to determine which fleets may be most suitable for battery-electric bus (BEB) investment. The report walks through a model and baseline scenario to determine the net present value and the payback period for investment in BEBs and charging infrastructure.
Access the Financial Analysis of Battery Electric Transit Buses (2020)
Also in This Section
Resources for EV Infrastructure Planning
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