BMDV Directive: Up to 70% funding for electric bus conversion and procurement in retrospect
The BMDV directive for bus funding was last called in 2026 and funded up to 70% of the additional costs for the electrification of your fleet. The call ended on July 21, 2026. Find out what funds were available for the conversion or new purchase of electric buses and what that means today.
The topic briefly and concisely
The BMDV directive was funding the purchase and conversion of buses to electric drive with up to 70% of the additional costs until July 21, 2026.
The conversion of existing diesel vehicles was explicitly eligible for funding, which enables the protection of investments in special-purpose bodies (circular economy).
In addition to the vehicles, the necessary charging and maintenance infrastructure was also subsidized at 40% (plus SME bonus).
Rising operating costs and stricter emissions standards present fleet operators of buses with enormous challenges. Electrification is the logical step, but the high initial investments are a hurdle. This is precisely where the BMDV bus subsidy directive 2025 came in. It not only offered grants for the purchase of new e-buses, but also explicitly subsidized the conversion of existing diesel vehicles; the 2026 call for funding ended on July 21, 2026. For municipalities and companies, the leverage remains the same: reducing total cost of ownership (TCO), preserving valuable special-purpose bodies, and setting the course for a future-proof, locally emission-free fleet. Heero is your partner to fully exploit this potential.
The BMDV funding guideline 2025 at the time in detail
The "Guideline for the Promotion of Alternative Drives for Buses in Passenger Transport" published on June 26, 2024, was valid until December 31, 2025. It was the German federal government's central instrument for achieving the climate protection target of a 65 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 in the transport sector. The program aimed to decisively accelerate the market ramp-up of buses with battery and fuel cell technology. For transport companies and municipalities, this was a decisive lever for modernization.
The funding covered the additional investment costs compared to a conventional diesel bus. The maximum funding rate for the acquisition or conversion of electric buses was up to 70 percent for low electrification levels, otherwise 55 percent. This significantly reduced acquisition costs and made the transition economically attractive. The associated charging and maintenance infrastructure was subsidized with up to 40 percent. This program was intended to bring around 5,000 zero-emission buses onto the road. The funding for electric bus conversion was a clear signal of the value of the circular economy.
This financial support was crucial to driving the transformation of public and private passenger transport; the 2026 call for funding ended on July 21, 2026.
Who was eligible to apply and what specifically was funded?
Eligibility was deliberately broad in order to achieve a widespread impact. Legal entities under public law, such as cities and municipalities, as well as legal and natural entities under private law engaged in economic activity, were eligible to apply. This includes private bus operators, logistics companies, and trade businesses. A permanent establishment in Germany is a prerequisite. This opened the door to electromobility for many fleet operators under the current bus funding program. The 2026 funding call ran from May 26 to July 21, 2026, and has expired.
The scope of funding covered several core areas to enable a holistic transition. These included:
The procurement of new vehicles with battery-electric or fuel-cell-based drives.
The conversion of existing vehicles to an alternative drive, provided this is more economical or no suitable new vehicle is available on the market.
The necessary non-public charging infrastructure (e.g., at the depot) with a funding rate of 40 percent in the 2026 call.
Additional maintenance infrastructure required for the operation of the e-buses.
Feasibility studies, which received a 50 percent subsidy to plan the transition strategically.
This broad coverage ensured that not only the vehicle but the entire ecosystem of electromobility was supported. A subsequent call has not yet been announced.
Focus on Circular Economy: Why the funding for retrofitting was a game-changer
An outstanding feature of the BMDV directive was the explicit mention of retrofitting as an eligible measure. This was a decisive advantage for all operators who own expensive special-purpose vehicles based on the Sprinter or other buses with individual bodies. Instead of replacing a proven and depreciated vehicle base with a high residual value, the HEERO conversion enables continued use. This not only protects the budget but also valuable resources and is a prime example of an active circular economy.
In the case of a low degree of electrification, the funding covered up to 70 percent of the additional investment expenses incurred for a conversion, otherwise 55 percent; the charging and workshop infrastructure was subsidized with 40 percent, and the call for applications ended on July 21, 2026. For fleet managers, this meant that the costs of converting a diesel Sprinter into a powerful electric transporter dropped drastically. You protect your original investment in the vehicle body while simultaneously benefiting from the lower operating and maintenance costs of an electric drive. The electrification of your bus fleet thus became the most economical option.
This approach is particularly relevant for municipalities with special-purpose vehicles or logistics companies with customized fleets.
The path to promotion: A two-step process
The application process for vehicle and infrastructure projects was structured in two stages to ensure efficient allocation of funds. It began with the submission of a project outline and culminated in a formal application. This structured process secured the quality of the funded projects. For fleet operators, it is important to pay close attention to the deadlines of the respective funding calls.
The process was structured into the following steps:
Publication of the funding call: The BMDV published calls for the submission of project outlines with specific deadlines and requirements.
Submission of the project outline: In the first stage, applicants submitted a project outline via the online portal "easy-Online". This outline described the planned project.
Evaluation and prioritization: The received outlines were evaluated according to criteria such as CO2 reduction potential, cost-effectiveness, and fleet share.
Request for full application: Positively evaluated projects were requested to submit a formal funding application.
Application review and approval: After the final review of the full application, the granting authority decided on the funding within the scope of the available budget funds.
Careful preparation of the documents is the key to success. The Checkliste für den Förderantrag helps to meet all requirements.
Focus on profitability: TCO advantages through the funding at that time
The BMDV directive for bus subsidies 2025 not only reduced acquisition costs (CAPEX) but also sustainably improved the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). With a subsidy of up to 70% on the additional costs of an e-bus or a retrofitting, the initial investment was pushed down to the level of a diesel vehicle or even below. This accelerated the Return on Investment (ROI) significantly. For a fleet operator with 10 buses, this could mean savings of over 1 million euros.
The true savings are revealed in operation (OPEX). Electric vehicles benefit from significantly lower energy and maintenance costs. Electricity is cheaper per kilometer than diesel, and the elimination of oil changes, exhaust systems, and other wear-prone parts reduces workshop costs by up to 60%. These operating cost advantages were directly realizable through the subsidy. The 80 percent subsidy rate for e-buses was the strongest incentive at the time; the call ended on July 21, 2026.
In addition, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefited from a bonus of up to 20 percentage points on infrastructure funding, which further reduced overall costs. Thus, electrification becomes the economically and emission-wise superior solution.
Your advantage with HEERO: Partnership for a successful transformation
The BMDV Bus Funding Directive 2025 was an excellent opportunity; the application process and technical implementation require expertise. HEERO is more than just a vehicle manufacturer or converter; we are your strategic partner for electrification. We support you from the initial analysis and the creation of a convincing project outline to the commissioning of your e-fleet. Our patented conversion for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a field-tested solution that is perfectly tailored to the funding criteria.
We support you in proving the economic efficiency of your project with a detailed TCO analysis and demonstrating the emission advantage. Whether for municipalities, logistics companies, or craft businesses – we develop a customized solution that meets your operational requirements and maximizes the use of funding. Benefit from our experience in numerous successful fleet projects. The funding of charging infrastructure is an integral part of our concept.
Start the transformation of your fleet now. Request a personal consultation or book an everyday test at no cost to experience the performance and reliability of our vehicles for yourself. HEERO makes the transition to electromobility simple, economical, and future-proof.
More useful links
The official website of the Federal Government offers comprehensive information on political initiatives and funding programs, including the transport transition and electromobility.
The NOW GmbH is a federal enterprise that coordinates the development and implementation of funding programs for sustainable mobility and energy, such as the federal funding for e-buses.
The Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) is a division of Forschungszentrum Jülich and supports federal ministries in implementing research and innovation funding programs, including the evaluation of applications for e-bus funding.
