*1.1. Necessity for Total Cost of Ownership Analysis*

With the volatility of gasoline and electrical prices [1], the purchase of battery electric vehicles (BEV) or hybrid vehicles has become an attractive option to some [2], but understanding the actual total costs of ownership (TCO) associated with such a purchase, as well as environmental concerns requires analysis The metrics "miles per gallon" or "kilometers per liter" are not appropriate for electric vehicles (EVs), which underscores that the consumer understanding of EVs and energy costs is often incomplete [3]. When conducting a cost-benefit analysis of potential options, the analysis of EVs must include both cost to the consumer and cost to the environment, as well as performance and re-charging [4]. The automobile industry must evaluate and compare the costs and the demand trade-offs from a consumer perspective to ensure that the engineering of sustainable products meets consumer requirements [5,6]. The bottom line is that there is a necessity for consumers to understand the TCO as well as environmental considerations.
