Nissan’s all-electric car, the Leaf, has a base price of $32,780 in the United States, but it is eligible for a $7500 federal tax credit. A consulting engineering company wants to evaluate the purchase or lease of one of the vehicles for use by its employees traveling to job sites in the local area. The cost for leasing the vehicle will be $4200 per year (payable at the end of each year) after an initialization charge of $2500 paid now. If the company purchases the vehicle, it will also purchase a home charging station for $2200 that will be partially offset by a 50% tax credit. If the company expects to be able to sell the car and charging station for 40% of the base price of the car alone at the end of 3 years, should the company purchase or lease the car? Use an interest rate of 10% per year and annual worth analysis.

Nissan's all-electric car, the Leaf

PV cost of Leaf Purchase =   $16,529

PV cost of Leasing =             $12,944.78

The company should lease the car.

Explanation:

a) Costs incurred to purchase the Leaf:

Base price                    $32,780

less Federal tax credit ($7,500)

Charging station             2,200

less 50% tax credit         (1,100)

Cash paid                  $26,380

Sales value after 3 yrs (9,851) ( $26,380 - 40% of base discounted to PV)

Net PV Investment    $16,529

b) Calculation of Discounted Present Values of Payments under Leasing, using online financial calculator:

PV (Present Value)$12,944.78

N (Number of Periods)3.000

I/Y (Interest Rate)10.000%

PMT (Periodic Payment)   $4,200.00

Starting Investment$2,500.00

Total Principal$15,100.00

Total Interest$2,129.50

c) The purchase of the Leaf would involve a present value cost of $26,380 after deducting all the savings from tax.  The 40% sales value of the car at the end of 3 years = $13,112 ($32,780 x 40%).  When this sales value is discounted to PV of $9,851, the PV of the car investments becomes $16,529 ($26,380 - $9,851).  On the other hand, leasing will cost in PV the sum of $12,944.78

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