Insight in actual operational costs of electric transport; A method to get increasing insight in actual costs of electric vehicles in Rotterdam “on the road”

Cost-effectiveness is extremely important for the success of electric road transport. At the Rotterdam University of Applied Science a cost model was developed that uses a Functional Unit (FU) to create the possibility to objectively compare operational costs (TCO) of Electric Vehicles (EV) with Internal Combustions Engine Vehicles (ICEV). Four studies on different EVs were conducted in practice over a period of several years to get insight in the actual costs “on the road”. The cost model includes the important costs of Operation; like maintenance and energy. Because these cost aspects influence the Total Cost of Operation of EV radically. With the cost model the operational costs of electric road transport can be calculated, estimated and thus compared with the total costs of function fulfilling of both EV and ICEV. Additionally it becomes possible to optimize the costs of road transport in Rotterdam with Electric Vehicles EV.