Mars Incorporated is interested in going to market with a new fuel savings device that attaches to electrically powered industrial vehicles. The device, code named €œPython,€ promises to save up to 15 percent of the electrical power required to operate the average electric forklift. Mars expects that modest demand expected during the introductory year will be followed by a steady increase in demand in subsequent years. The extent of this increase in demand will be based on customer€™s expectations regarding the future cost of electricity, and which is shown in Table. Mars expects to sell the device for $500 each, and does not expect to be able to raise its price over the foreseeable future.

Mars is faced with two alternatives:
Alternative 1: Make the device themselves, which requires an initial outlay of $250,000 in plant and equipment and a variable cost of $75 per unit.
Alternative 2: Outsource the production, which requires no initial investment, but incurs a per unit cost of $300.
a. Assuming small increases in the cost of electrical power, compute the cash flows for each alternative. Over the next 5 years, which alternative maximizes the NPV of this project if the discount rate is 10 percent?
b. Assuming large increases in the cost of electrical power, compute the cash flows for each alternative. Over the next 5 years, which alternative maximizes the NPV of this project if the discount rate is 10percent?

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EXPECTED DEMAND OF THE DEVICE IN UNITS/YEAR Small Increases in the Large Increases in the Year Cost of Electrical Power 1,000 5,000 1,000 15,000 18,000 Cost of Electrical Power 10,000 8,000 15,000 20,000 30,000 4