Answer: The difference in the EAC of the two cars is $317,89; with an EAC of $6.612,54 for the Scion xA and $6.930,42 for the Toyota Prius, so the better option is the Scion xA.
Explanation: EAC means Equivalent annual cost and represents the cost per year of owning, operating, and maintaining an asset over its entire life. It is used to compare the cost-effectiveness of various assets that have unequal lifespans. The formula of EAC is the following:
EAC = NPV / A(t,r)
NPV: Net Present Value
A(t,r): Annuity factor
A(t,r) = (1 - 1/(1+r)^t) / r
t: Number of periods
r: Cost of capital
Therefore, we proceed to calculate the A(t,r) for each car:
1. Scion xA: (1 - 1/(1+12%)^3) / 12% = 2,401831268
2. Toyota Prius: (1 - 1/(1+12%)^5) / 12% = 3,604776202
Next, the initial costs must be divided by the annuity factor while adding in the OCF:
1. Scion xA: 13000/2,401831268 + 1200 = $6.612,54
2. Toyota Prius: 23000/3,604776202 + 550 = $6.930,42