Reminder: definition of TCO (total cost of ownership)
Let's start with a quick definition of the term "total cost of ownership". Translated into French, this term literally means "total cost of ownership", and as the name suggests, it's an indicator of how much an object or service has cost you over its entire lifetime.
Why is this an important calculation? Quite simply because we tend to make decisions based on the price of items or services only at the time of purchase. But we rarely take into account the total cost of ownership.
In the case of vehicles, this calculation can help you save thousands of euros. To keep things as close to reality as possible, we've decided to compare two vehicles: a combustion vehicle (the Nissan Qashqai) and an electric vehicle (the Nissan Leaf).
Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai : Calculation methodology
The following components must be taken into account when calculating TCO (total cost of ownership):
- Purchase price
- Electric car charging station
- Assistance available for each model + taxation
- Fuel and energy consumption
- Vehicle taxes
- Car insurance
- Maintenance and servicing
- Residual value
Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai: What this calculation doesn't take into account
This calculation does not take into account several criteria such as :
- Fluctuating hydrocarbon prices: The price of fuel is increasingly taxed in France, and we are not immune to price increases. As the price per barrel also depends on geopolitical parameters beyond the control of our governments, it is difficult to anticipate the future supply of hydrocarbons and therefore their price.
- Savings on parking : electric cars also mean free parking in some cities. So as not to generalize, we prefer to exclude this benefit from the TCO (total cost of ownership) calculation.
- Reduced noise pollution: electric cars make no noise, which is very soothing for the driver, especially if you spend a lot of time in them. Imagine living for years on a boulevard and then suddenly installing double-glazed windows? It's all the same.
- Lower CO2 emissions: It's a pity, but this criterion is not taken into account when calculating the TCO of an electric or petrol vehicle. Yet this parameter is crucial today, given the determination of governments to reduce pollution in their countries.
Discover several models of electric vehicles available for quick delivery!
1. Purchase price
You'll pay around €36,417 for your Nissan Leaf 62kW Connecta, while the Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia costs just €24,950. This means that the electric version is around 33% more expensive than the petrol version.
| Nissan Leaf 62 kW Connecta | NIssan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia | |
|---|---|---|
|
Catalog price excl. |
36 417 € |
24 950 € |
2. Nissan Leaf charging station
In the case of the Nissan Qashqai, you still have to fill up at the gas station. But in the case of a Nissan Leaf, it's highly advisable to install a charging station at home. This gives you greater flexibility when you're driving, and you can recharge safely at home or at your business.
A wallbox costs between €500 and €1,500. It's also possible to recharge at your company. In both cases, there are a number of subsidies available for the installation of charging stations, whether you live in a condominium or a single-family home. Whether you're a tenant or a homeowner, you're entitled to the plug that lets you recharge at home. It's your right.
3. Aid for the purchase of an electric vehicle
If you buy the Nissan Qashqai, you'll pay an environmental penalty of €70 in 2019.
Good to know: in 2020, the amounts of the ecological malus will soar. Don't hesitate to read our special report on this subject.
In the case of the Nissan Leaf, on the other hand, a number of subsidies are available for buyers of electric vehicles.
The ecological bonus
The ecological bonus only applies to 100% electric vehicles. It amounts to 27% of the acquisition cost of the vehicle, including tax, up to a maximum of €7,000.. In 2020, new rules apply for the allocation of the ecological bonus.
The conversion bonus
The "prime à la conversion" is a government subsidy that enables low-income households to scrap their old vehicle and replace it with a less polluting model, in exchange for financial assistance.
Read also - Conversion bonus
| Conversion bonus | New electric vehicle | Used electric vehicles |
|---|---|---|
|
Company |
2 500 € |
2 500 € |
|
Reference tax income exceeds 13,489 euros per unit |
2 500 € |
2 500 € |
|
Reference tax income is less than 13,489 euros per unit |
5 000 € |
5 000 € |
Regional aid
Depending on where you live, you may also be eligible for other grants that can be combined with the bonus écologique and the prime à la conversion.
Also read - Regional aid for electric cars
If you're buying a gasoline-powered vehicle, you'll have to forget about any purchase aid.
4. Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai : Fuel
When it comes to fuel consumption, the Nissan Leaf is a step ahead of the Nissan Qashqai. An electric car costs around 2€/100 km, much to the delight of electric vehicle enthusiasts.
Petrol vehicles are a different story. The Nissan Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia consumes 5.5 liters of petrol per 100 km (combined cycle) at an average price of around €1.50 per liter in France (i.e. 8.25/100 km, 4 times more than an electric vehicle).
If you drive 24,000 km a year, you'll save over €800 a year. As you can see, the more you drive, the more profitable an electric vehicle becomes for you.
| Nissan Leaf | Nissan Qashqai | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finish |
62 kW Connecta |
1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia |
|
Fuel costs |
- |
1,5 € |
|
Average fuel consumption (L/100 km) |
- |
5,5 |
|
Cost €/100 km |
2 € |
8 € |
|
Number of kilometers traveled per year |
24 000 |
24 000 |
|
Fuel cost per year |
480 € |
1 954 € |
5. Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai: Vehicle taxes
If you buy an electric car as a private individual or as a company, you benefit from the ecological bonus and have very low registration fees.
If you're buying a Nissan Leaf as a business:
- You pay €0 for the tax on the use of passenger vehicles for economic purposes.
- Carte grise will cost 3€ (in Paris)
- Amortization instalments of €30,000 in 2019 and €33,000 in 2020
For the Nissan Qashqai, the costs are different:
- You pay €806/year for taxon the use of passenger vehicles for economic purposes.
- Registration fees will be €354 (in Paris)
- 18,300 amortization instalment in 2019
| Nissan Leaf | Nissan Qashqai | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finish |
62 kW Connecta |
1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia |
|
Amount of tax on the use of passenger cars for economic purposes per year |
0 € |
806 € |
|
Amount of tax on the use of passenger cars for business purposes over the term of the contract |
0 € |
3 224 € |
|
Car registration |
3 € |
354 € |
|
Total |
3 € |
3 578 € |
6. Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai : Car insurance
Another component to consider when calculating the TCO of an electric car is insurance.
The price of insurance is based on a number of criteria: the model, the tax rating of the vehicle, the place of residence, and individual factors such as bonus/malus and driver experience.
For comprehensive insurance, you'll pay around €819 for a Nissan leaf and €800 for the Nissan Qashqai. So, when it comes to insurance, there's not much difference between the two models.
| Nissan Leaf | Nissan Qashqai | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finish |
62 kW Connecta |
1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia |
|
Insurance price per year |
819 € |
800 € |
7. Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai: Care and maintenance
Servicing and maintenance are also components in the calculation of vehicle tco.
For gasoline-powered cars, this includes changing the engine oil and brake fluid. For the Nissan Qashqai, this will cost you around €800/year.
In fact, vehicles with combustion engines have many more wearing parts than vehicles with electric motors, which naturally means higher repair and maintenance costs.
This difference gives the electric car a significant advantage: maintenance is much cheaper and less frequent. The Nissan Leaf costs around €240/year. Note that the battery is the most critical component to maintain, unlike a combustion-powered vehicle.
Good to know: electric car batteries are guaranteed for up to 8 years by the manufacturer.
| Nissan Leaf | Nissan Qashqai | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finish |
62 kW Connecta |
1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia |
|
Maintenance costs per year |
240 € |
800 € |
8. Nissan Leaf vs Qashqai: Vehicle residual value
The final criterion to compare when calculating TCO (total cost of ownership) is residual value. Residual value is the value of the vehicle on the second-hand market after it has been used.
Estimating the residual value of your vehicle is a complicated task, especially for someone who doesn't work in the automotive industry. However, there are websites that allow you to simulate residual value and help you make your choice. For example, you can use Autovisual for free simulations. The site is available in several countries: Belgium, Luxembourg and Canada, for example.
Throughout this article, we've estimated that the two cars travel 24,000 km /year, or 2,000 km per month.
The residual value of the Nissan Qashqai is lower than that of the Nissan Leaf.
Why this price difference? With legislation gradually being passed to tax the most polluting vehicles, it's likely that combustion-powered cars will be less in demand on the second-hand market, and will sell less well.
| Nissan Leaf | Nissan Qashqai | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finish |
62 kW Connecta |
1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia |
|
Theoretical resale price excl. |
16 667 € |
10 000 € |
Conclusion: Which car costs less in terms of TCO?
After 4 years, the verdict is clear: electric cars cost far less than their internal combustion counterparts. The thermal car will cost you 2 times more than the electric car.
The table below compares the overall costs of the two vehicles after four years.
| Nissan Leaf | Nissan Qashqai | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finish |
62 kW Connecta |
1.3 DIG-T 140 Visia |
|
Purchase price |
|
|
|
Catalog price excl. |
30 873 € |
24 950 € |
|
Ecological bonus (private customers) |
- 7 000 € |
70 € |
|
Car registration |
3 € |
354 € |
|
Price after discount |
24 876 € |
25 374 € |
|
Charging station |
|
|
|
Wallbox installation |
600 € |
0 € |
|
Tax on the use of passenger vehicles for economic purposes |
|
|
|
Amount of tax per year |
0 € |
806 € |
|
Amount of tax over contract term |
0 € |
3 224 € |
|
Total |
25 476 € |
28 598 € |
|
Operating costs |
|
|
|
Fuel costs |
- |
1,5 € |
|
Average fuel consumption (L/100 km) |
|
|
|
Cost €/100 km |
2 € |
8 € |
|
Number of kilometers traveled per year |
24 000 |
24 000 |
|
Fuel cost per year |
480 € |
1 954 € |
|
Maintenance costs per year |
240 € |
800 € |
|
Insurance price per year |
819 € |
800 € |
|
Number of years before resale |
4 |
4 |
|
Cost of use over useful life |
6 156 € |
14 214 € |
|
Theoretical resale price excl. |
16 667 € |
10 000 € |
|
Total cost of ownership before resale |
31 632 € |
42 812 € |
|
Total cost of ownership per year excl. |
7 908 € |
10 703 € |
|
Total cost of ownership after reselling the vehicle excluding VAT |
13 965 € |
32 812 € |
Use the TCO simulator to calculate your car's total cost of ownership and compare it with its internal combustion equivalent.
