VinFast has launched its web-based Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator in the Philippines, giving consumers an interactive tool to compare the estimated long-term financial impact of driving an electric vehicle with that of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.
The calculator takes the car-buying decision beyond specifications and initial purchase price by focusing on the total cost of owning a vehicle over time. It factors in driving habits, fuel or electricity expenses, monthly financing payments, and routine maintenance to help buyers simulate their expected financial outlook before purchasing a vehicle.
Comparing ownership costs
Users select a VinFast model, enter their average monthly mileage, choose a battery ownership option, and specify how long they expect to own the vehicle. The calculator then generates comparative estimates for a VinFast EV and a comparable ICE vehicle, including estimated monthly payments, monthly energy costs, and total ownership projections.
Rather than comparing vehicle prices alone, the TCO Calculator shows how costs can accumulate over several years and lets users adjust variables to reflect their own driving patterns and ownership plans.
VinFast provides an example using a VF 7 Plus with a battery subscription driven 2,000 kilometers per month over five years. Under those parameters, the calculator estimates a total cost of ownership of PHP1,884,890 for the VF 7 Plus, compared with PHP3,156,240 for an ICE vehicle under the same conditions.
The difference amounts to an estimated PHP1,271,350, or about 40%. These figures are calculator-generated estimates based on the scenario provided by VinFast and may vary according to actual financing terms, energy and fuel prices, maintenance costs, driving patterns, and other ownership conditions.
Built around local driving costs
VinFast positions the calculator against the backdrop of rising household transport costs and growing interest in electrified vehicles. The company cites a consumer study by Agile Data Solutions Inc. indicating that one in six Filipinos is actively considering an EV or hybrid vehicle as transport and fuel costs remain a concern.
The release also cites 2026 local estimates placing electricity rates at around PHP12 per kWh and gasoline at approximately PHP65 per liter. VinFast argues that the difference in energy costs can help high-mileage EV drivers offset the initial purchase premium associated with electric vehicles over time.
The company also references Deloitte’s 2026 Global Automotive Consumer Study, which found that 52% of U.S. consumers considering an EV cited lower fuel costs as their primary motivation, while 40% identified overall vehicle cost and maintenance as a major concern.
Together, these factors reflect growing consumer attention to lifetime vehicle expenses rather than purchase price alone.
Making EV costs easier to compare
VinFast says the TCO Calculator is intended to let consumers test different ownership scenarios themselves rather than simply accepting broad claims about lower EV running costs. By changing factors such as mileage and ownership duration, prospective buyers can see how their own use case affects projected costs.
The company also cites CAMPI-TMA data identifying VinFast as the No. 1 BEV brand in the Philippines from March to June 2026. Against that backdrop, the calculator forms part of its effort to make the economics of electric-vehicle ownership easier for Filipino consumers to understand.
By combining projected financing, energy, maintenance, and other ownership expenses into a single comparison, the TCO Calculator gives prospective buyers another reference point for evaluating whether an EV fits their budget and driving needs.