Dana has launched its total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) calculator for the commercial vehicle (CV) market, which it says will allow fleets and independent operators to utilise this calculator to make comprehensive cost comparisons between traditional diesel platforms and full-electric powertrain solutions.

Mark Wallace, president, Dana Commercial Driveline Technologies, said: "Fleets are closely evaluating the costs to potentially transition from diesel to electric platforms as they seek to move goods more responsibly. Dana is committed to supporting customers throughout the evolution of mobility, and our new analytics tool provides an extensive review of the total cost of ownership for diesel and electric powertrains, aiding fleets as they explore electrification's role in their operations."

The company says the easy to use calculator requires minimal input and includes visual prompts for simple navigation. Prior to beginning an assessment, a user may choose to include their specific cost of ownership details, such as vehicle acquisition cost, taxes, tolls, and maintenance fees.  If the information is not readily available, the calculator is pre-populated with common operating parameters for six-key 'electrification-first' applications. 

Dana says the calculator is designed with the flexibility to tailor the calculations to a user's unique situation, which is able to address the needs of its diverse customer base, including regional considerations for units of measurement and currency. 

The TCO calculations include fuel, equipment, and a total of 'other' costs to provide a summary assessment of the total cost per mile and the total annual cost for operation.  The user is able to toggle between the diesel evaluation and the full electric evaluation, as well as display both calculations for a side-by-side comparison.

The company says in the future it will also introduce enhancements to the calculator that will include alternative power variants, as well as the ability to customise powertrains featuring specific Spicer Electrified with TM4 systems.