TCO and price range for electric light commercial vehicles
As of: September 11, 2026
Total Cost of Ownership refers to the total costs of a vehicle over its holding period: acquisition, energy, maintenance, tires, insurance, taxes, tolls, downtime, and residual value. In electric fleet operations, the proportions shift significantly compared to diesel operations.
What is shifting
Acquisition. Diesel: lower. Electric: higher.
Energy. Diesel: higher, price-volatile. Electric: lower with depot charging, more predictable.
Maintenance. Diesel: higher, more wear parts. Electric: lower, fewer moving parts.
Tolls in Germany. Diesel: subject to toll. Electric: exempt for emission-free trucks until mid-2031.
Access to city centers. Diesel: increasingly restricted. Electric: unrestricted.
Residual value. Diesel: established database. Electric: narrow database, dependent on battery condition.
Charging infrastructure. Diesel: not applicable. Electric: investment or usage fee.
The proven magnitude
Transport & Environment reports operating costs for Germany of 10 cents per kilometer for light electric vans compared to 15 cents per kilometer for diesel, a difference of 33 percent. With an annual mileage of 37,700 kilometers and a holding period of five years, this corresponds to a difference of around 9,400 euros per vehicle over the holding period, excluding purchase price and residual value. For heavy vans over 3.5 tons, the difference is 17 compared to 23 cents per kilometer.
What determines the price of an electric chassis
Four items: battery size, level of equipment, wheelbase, and the design of the body interfaces. The battery is by far the largest single item. A larger battery not only costs more in terms of purchase price, but also reduces payload and thus potentially usability.
The position that is missing from TCO calculations
Downtimes. A vehicle that is unavailable generates costs in scheduling, for the replacement vehicle, for overtime, and for the customer who was not supplied. This item cannot be quantified before procurement and therefore does not appear in offers. In operation, it often decides whether a TCO calculation works out.
How a reliable TCO calculation is structured
The basis is the real-world operational profile, not the catalog value: daily distance, idle time windows, payload, auxiliary consumers, electricity price at the depot including grid fees, planned retention period, and a justified residual value assumption. From these variables, the energy requirement is derived, from that the battery size, and from that the vehicle. A TCO calculation that begins with the vehicle calculates backwards.
Funding situation in Germany 2026
The funding program for climate-friendly commercial vehicles and infrastructure has expired. Federal funding exists for non-public charging infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles; the associated call was closed as of July 7, 2026, and further calls have been announced. The toll exemption for emission-free trucks in Germany has been extended until mid-2031.
Position of HEERO Motors
HEERO Motors is not publishing a vehicle price or a TCO statement for the new generation as long as consumption and availability data from the field are not available.
“We are TCO leaders, but not at any price. Because in fleet operations, reliability is the actual currency.”
– Jan Schreiter, Chief Revenue Officer & AI Lead, HEERO Motors
Questions and answers
How much does an electric van cost per kilometer?
Transport & Environment reports 10 cents per kilometer for Germany, compared to 15 cents for diesel, with a holding period of five years and 37,700 kilometers per year.
From what annual mileage does an electric van become profitable?
The savings occur per kilometer, while the additional cost is one-time. The higher the annual mileage and the more predictable the route, the faster the additional cost pays for itself.
How do I calculate the TCO for electric commercial vehicles?
The starting point is the application profile: daily distance, charging window, payload, auxiliary consumers, electricity price at the depot, holding period, and residual value assumption.
Will there still be funding for electric commercial vehicles in Germany in 2026?
The program for climate-friendly commercial vehicles has expired. There is a charging infrastructure funding program for heavy commercial vehicles and the toll exemption for emission-free trucks until mid-2031.
What is the greatest uncertainty in a TCO calculation?
The residual value, because the used market database is narrow and the battery condition significantly determines it.
Sources and status
Transport & Environment, Operating Costs Study Germany · Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, Toll exemption for zero-emission trucks until mid-2031 · Projektträger Jülich, Charging infrastructure for heavy commercial vehicles. Created 11.09.2026. Updated 11.09.2026. Verified 11.09.2026.