DriveCost
A German-market total-cost-of-ownership calculator that, given a buyer's driving pattern, residence, and commute, compares a new EV against an ICE car after subsidies, tax changes, charging access, depreciation and resale risk — and explains when waiting beats buying.
German private car buyers weighing an EV against an ICE during the China-disruption uncertainty
- TCO projection over three, five and eight years with regional electricity tariffs, home-charging feasibility, and employer subsidies
- Resale-risk modelling with depreciation curves split by powertrain using German and EU used-car data
- Subsidy and tax optimiser that flags the Umweltbonus, the Dienstwagen-Privileg, and local municipal grants
- 'Wait vs Buy' simulator that tells a buyer whether holding their current car another 12 to 24 months beats today's options
Tooze's framing — that the German auto industry has been lulled by China profits while falling behind on EVs — has shoppers questioning whether today's German EVs will hold value or whether to wait for next-generation models from Chinese, Korean and Tesla rivals.
DAT 2026 report cited 72% of German drivers unsure about EV resale value; ADAC's Elektroauto-Kostenvergleich page and multiple German cost calculators confirm active buyer research behavior around EV vs ICE.Resale-value anxiety: 72% of German drivers fear EV depreciation ↗ADAC: Elektroauto, Plug-in-Hybrid, Benziner, Diesel Kostenvergleich ↗
Market is crowded: ADAC (dominant, trusted brand), autokostencheck.de, evica.app, costmycar.com Germany, Agora Verkehrswende TCO tool and IEA TCO tool all cover EV vs ICE; ADAC's PROFI-Autokostenrechner is the entrenched incumbent.ADAC PROFI-Autokostenrechner v7.0 ↗Kostenrechner Elektro vs. Benziner oder Diesel ↗EVica - EV vs ICE Cost Comparison Calculator ↗
ADAC proves WTP at €199/yr for its PROFI calculator, but most direct competitors (autokostencheck, evica, ADAC basic page) are free; a new entrant would likely need an affiliate/lead-gen model rather than direct subscription.ADAC PROFI-Autokostenrechner v7.0 ↗
EV vs ICE TCO comparison remains relevant through Germany's multi-year transition: subsidy regime just changed again (income-based bonus reintroduced Oct 2025), Kfz-Steuer exemptions expire, and Chinese/Korean/Tesla next-gen models keep timing calculus alive.Germany: New EV subsidy returns as purchase incentive - also for used cars ↗
Moderate complexity — requires DAT/KBA resale data, regional Strom tariffs, charging infrastructure density by postcode, and commute modelling; data is public-ish but aggregation and upkeep (especially after subsidy changes) is non-trivial for a solo build.Germany Car Cost Calculator 2025 | Kfz-Steuer & TUV Cost Estimator ↗