Electric vs LPG vs Diesel Forklift Cost Calculator
Electric trucks usually cost more to buy and less to run. Whether that trade pays back depends on your hours and your energy prices, so this calculator asks for all three power types at once and shows where they cross over.
| Power type | Per hour | Per year | Over 5 years | Including purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | $2.47 | $4,941 | $24,706 | $24,706 |
| LPG | $4.80 | $9,600 | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Diesel | $6.50 | $13,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 |
Cheapest to run: Electric
Annual difference between best and worst: $8,059
Enter purchase prices above to see how long a more expensive machine takes to pay for itself in running costs.
Figures are shown in $. The calculation does not convert currencies: enter every price in the same one.
These figures are estimates. They are produced from the numbers you enter, not from quoted prices, and they are not a guarantee of real-world cost. Use them to compare options, then confirm with your supplier.
Assumptions used in this calculation
- Operator cost is excluded: it is effectively identical across the three power types and would mask the difference.
- Battery replacement is spread evenly across the stated battery life.
- No discounting, inflation or residual value is applied. Prices are held flat for the whole period.
- Charging losses are applied to the electric option only, via the charging efficiency field.
How this is calculated
Each power type is costed the same way, with one deliberate difference:
- Electric energy per hour = (kWh per hour / charging efficiency) x electricity price. Dividing by efficiency accounts for the energy lost in charging, which is real money you pay for.
- LPG and diesel energy per hour = fuel price x consumption per hour.
- Battery replacement is spread over the battery life and charged per hour, for the electric option only.
- Break-even years = extra purchase price / annual running-cost saving. It is only shown where one option genuinely costs more to buy and less to run.
Operator cost is left out on purpose. It is close to identical across the three, and including it would shrink the difference you are trying to see.