April 3, 2025
Electric or combustion engine? ARI 1710 and Mercedes Sprinter in a total cost of ownership comparison
For companies, the focus when purchasing commercial vehicles is not only on the environmental aspect, but above all on the cost-benefit ratio. The total cost of ownership (TCO) takes into account all expenses incurred over the entire service life of a vehicle, including purchase, consumption, maintenance, taxes and insurance. In this article, we compare the electric ARI 1710 with the Mercedes Sprinter - two classic vehicles for parcel services, tradespeople and construction companies.
Acquisition costs
-
ARI 1710 (high-roof panel van, N1 variant): from €44,990 plus VAT.
-
Mercedes Sprinter (standard, panel van, high roof, 311 CDI, 6-speed manual gearbox ECO Gear 360, rear-wheel drive): €33,586.34 plus VAT.
At first glance, the Sprinter appears to be cheaper to buy. However, the long-term operating costs should be included in the overall consideration.
Consumption costs: electricity vs. fuel
ARI 1710: Consumption of 22 kWh per 100 km. With an average electricity price of €0.31/kWh (as of February 2025), this results in costs of €6.82 per 100 km.
Mercedes Sprinter: Fuel consumption combined [WLTP] of 9.0 l/100 km diesel. Assuming a diesel price of €1.70/l (assumed average value), this results in costs of €13.50 per 100 km.
The ARI 1710 offers a clear cost advantage in terms of consumption costs.
Maintenance and repairs
Maintenance and repair costs are another important factor. An inspection of the ARI 1710 costs €249, while the Sprinter costs up to €389. As a combustion engine, the Sprinter also requires regular oil changes, the cost of which varies between €100 and €400 depending on the interval. In addition, both vehicles have similar costs for tire changes and minor repairs such as brakes or windscreen wipers.
Vehicle tax also plays a role. As an electric vehicle, the ARI 1710 is exempt from vehicle tax until December 31, 2030, while the Mercedes Sprinter is subject to an annual tax of €633. These factors mean that the ARI 1710 offers significant cost benefits over the years.
Taxes and insurance
Vehicle tax:
-
ARI 1710: Exempt from vehicle tax as an electric vehicle until 31.12.2030.
-
Mercedes Sprinter: Annual road tax is around €633 for our reference model.
Insurance:
ARI 1710: Fully comprehensive insurance for the ARI 1710 electric van costs: €699 per year (driver independent)
Mercedes Sprinter: The amount may vary depending on the selected insurance cover, driver group and no-claims class. The costs vary depending on the insurer and can be between €550 and €600.
Resale value
After a useful life of 10 years and a mileage of around 150,000 km, the resale value is an important factor.
Mercedes Sprinter: Used vehicles with comparable mileage are offered on platforms such as mobile.de for between €8,000 and €12,000, depending on their condition.
ARI 1710: As this model only recently came onto the market, no reliable data is yet available on its residual value after 10 years. However, the depreciation is likely to be similar to that of the diesel model when looking at comparable vehicles from competitors.
Conclusion: electric mobility as a cost advantage?
While the Mercedes Sprinter is cheaper to buy, the ARI 1710 scores with lower consumption, maintenance and tax costs. Companies should therefore consider the total costs over the vehicle's service life in order to make an informed decision. Electromobility offers not only ecological but also economic benefits.
