Total life-cycle cost analysis of conventional and alternative fueled vehicles

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/62.242063· OSTI ID:5656797

Cardullo, M W ^[1]

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1. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Falls Church, VA (United States). Northern Virginia Graduate Center, Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Total Life-Cycle Cost (TLCC) Analysis can indicate whether paying higher capital costs for advanced technology with low operating and/or environmental costs is advantageous over paying lower capital costs for conventional technology with higher operating and/or environmental costs. While minimizing total life-cycle cost is an important consideration, the consumer often identifies non-cost-related benefits or drawbacks that make more expensive options appear more attractive. The consumer is also likely to heavily weigh initial capital costs while giving limited consideration to operating and/or societal costs, whereas policy-makers considering external costs, such as those resulting from environmental impacts, may reach significantly different conclusions about which technologies are most advantageous to society. This paper summarizes a TLCC model which was developed to facilitate consideration of the various factors involved in both individual and societal policy decision making. The model was developed as part of a US Department of Energy Contract and has been revised to reflect changes necessary to make the model more realistic. The model considers capital, operating, salvage, and environmental costs for cars, vans, and buses using conventional and alternative fuels. The model has been developed to operate on an IBM or compatible personal computer platform using the commercial spreadsheet program MicroSoft Excell[reg sign] Version 4 for Windows[reg sign] and can be easily kept current because its modular structure allows straightforward access to embedded data sets for review and update.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-91CH10491
• OSTI ID: 5656797
• Journal Information: IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 8:11; ISSN 0885-8985; ISSN IAEMEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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