Driving & travel · Calculator companion · By K Imports
Fuel efficiency payback: practical guide
This guide explains how to use the Count.ie fuel efficiency payback. Compare fuel options and recover a more efficient car purchase premium. Follow the inputs, method and worked example below, then compare your own scenario.
Guide written .
Open the Fuel efficiency payback calculatorWhat to prepare
- Record the distance, vehicle specification and the relevant fuel or electricity price.
- Separate one-off purchase or import costs from recurring running costs.
- Use observed consumption where available and label any manufacturer's figure as an assumption.
Understand the inputs
The calculation method
Fuel costs use consumption × fuel price × distance. Annual saving deducts second-car extra non-fuel cost; fuel-only distance ignores that cost.
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and their result.
Example inputs
- Annual distance (km)
- 20000
- First car consumption (L/100 km)
- 7
- First fuel price (€/litre)
- 1.8
- Second car consumption (L/100 km)
- 5
- Second fuel price (€/litre)
- 1.75
- Extra second-car annual non-fuel costs (€)
- 150
- Second-car purchase premium (€)
- 2500
Calculated example result
- Annual Net Saving
- €620.00
- Simple Payback Years
- 4.03 years
How to interpret the result
A running-cost or range estimate is not a guarantee of real-world performance. Weather, loading, driving conditions, charging losses and changing prices can alter the result.
Compare vehicles over the same distance and ownership period. Test a higher energy price or worse consumption before deciding that the apparent saving is dependable.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not mix litres per 100 km with miles per gallon, or battery capacity with energy purchased.
- Distinguish an advertised charging power from power sustained during a full session.
- Check taxes, vehicle classification and exclusions against the stated date and sources.
Assumptions and sources
Enter negative extra annual costs to represent second-car savings. Excludes resale values, financing, emissions levies and future fuel price changes.
If your case falls outside this scope, use a more suitable calculator or contact us about an unclear method.