About this tool
Fleet fuel cost, explained
Total your fleet's yearly fuel bill from the number of vehicles, the distance each drives, fuel use and the fuel price, in metric or US units. Then see what the same distance would cost on electricity and how much switching would save.
How to use it
- 1Choose the Units: Metric (km, L) or US (miles, gallons). Or pick a preset: Delivery vans, Sales cars or Heavy trucks.
- 2Set the number of Vehicles, the distance per vehicle per year and the fuel use in L/100 km or fuel economy in mpg.
- 3Set the fuel price per litre or per gallon, then under Electric comparison, the electricity to replace 1 litre or gallon and the Electricity price per kWh.
- 4Read the Yearly fuel bill, the cost per km or mile and per vehicle, and the fuel and electric side by side table.
How it works
How the fuel bill is calculated
The calculator multiplies the number of vehicles by the distance each drives in a year, then by the fuel use in L/100 km divided by 100, to get the litres the fleet burns. Those litres times the price per litre give the yearly fuel bill, also shown per km and per vehicle. In US units, miles, mpg and the price per gallon are converted first and the results shown in miles and gallons.
The electric comparison asks how much electricity replaces one litre of fuel, because that depends on the size of the vehicle: about 2.4 kWh in the Delivery vans preset, 2.6 for Sales cars and 3.5 for Heavy trucks. The litres burned times that figure give the kWh needed for the same distance, and the kWh times the electricity price give the electric bill. The difference is the saving from going electric, also shown per km and per vehicle.
The comparison covers energy only. The purchase price of electric vehicles, chargers and maintenance are not included. The calculator uses one average for the whole fleet, so if it mixes vans and heavy trucks, run each group separately and add the results.
Litres per year = Vehicles × Distance per vehicle × (L/100 km / 100). Yearly fuel bill = Litres × Price per litre. Electric cost = Litres × kWh per litre × Price per kWh
When to use it
Ways people use it
Budgeting fuel for next year
Enter planned distances and an expected fuel price to set a fuel budget, then test a higher price in scenario B to see how much margin you need.
Valuing better fuel efficiency
Lower the fuel use by one litre per 100 km in scenario B and compare the two bills. The difference is the yearly saving from more efficient vehicles or better driving.
Preparing an electric fleet comparison
Set your own electricity tariff and read the saving per vehicle, the figure to weigh against the extra cost of an electric vehicle. Download CSV keeps the side by side table.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do I calculate fuel cost for a vehicle?
Multiply the distance driven by the consumption per kilometre, then by the price per litre. With a consumption in L/100 km, divide it by 100 first. 40,000 km at 9 L/100 km uses 3,600 litres a year.
How do I convert mpg to L/100 km?
Divide 235.2 by the figure in US miles per gallon, or 282.5 by the figure in UK (imperial) miles per gallon. For example, 25 US mpg is about 9.4 L/100 km. The calculator does this for US mpg when you switch units.
How much would an electric fleet save on energy?
Multiply the litres your fleet burns by the electricity needed to replace each litre and by your price per kWh, then compare with the fuel bill. The result depends mostly on your electricity tariff and the size of your vehicles.
Where do I find my fleet's real fuel consumption?
Fuel card statements give litres bought, and odometer readings or telematics give distance. Divide litres by kilometres and multiply by 100.