BMDV Guideline 2025: Secure up to 80% funding for E-bus conversion and procurement.
The new BMDV guideline for bus funding 2025 is active and offers up to 80% funding for the electrification of your fleet. This is the opportunity to drastically reduce investment costs and exceed legal requirements. Discover how to best utilize the funds for retrofitting or purchasing electric buses.
The topic briefly and concisely
The new BMDV directive promotes the purchase and conversion of buses to electric drive with up to 80% of the additional costs until December 31, 2025.
Explicitly eligible for funding is the retrofitting of existing diesel vehicles, which enables the protection of investments in specialized structures (circular economy).
In addition to the vehicles, the necessary charging and maintenance infrastructure is also subsidized by up to 40% (plus SME bonus).
Rising operating costs and stricter emission regulations present bus fleet operators with enormous challenges. Electrification is the logical step, but the high initial investments are a hurdle. This is exactly where the new BMDV Guideline for Bus Subsidies 2025 comes into play. It not only offers grants for the purchase of new e-buses but also explicitly supports the D2E conversion of existing diesel vehicles. For municipalities and companies, this means a unique opportunity to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO), preserve valuable special structures, and set the course for a future-proof, emission-free fleet. Heero is your partner to fully exploit this potential.
The new BMDV funding guideline 2025 in detail
The "Guideline for Promoting Alternative Drives for Buses in Public Transport," released on June 26, 2024, is valid until December 31, 2025. It is the central instrument of the federal government to achieve the climate protection goal of reducing emissions by 65 percent by 2030 in the transport sector. The program aims to significantly accelerate the market ramp-up of buses with battery and fuel cell technology. For transport companies and municipalities, this is a crucial lever for modernization.
Funding is provided for investment costs exceeding those of a conventional diesel bus. The maximum funding rate for the acquisition or conversion of electric buses is up to 80 percent. This significantly reduces acquisition costs and makes the transition economically attractive. The associated charging and maintenance infrastructure is subsidized by up to 40 percent. With this program, around 5,000 zero-emission buses are to be put on the roads. The funding for the E-bus conversion is a clear signal for the value of the circular economy.
This financial support is crucial to advance the transformation of public and private passenger transport.
Who is eligible to apply and what is specifically being funded?
Eligibility for application is intentionally defined broadly to achieve widespread impact. Legal entities under public law such as cities and municipalities, as well as legal and natural persons under private law engaged in economic activities, can submit applications. This includes private bus companies, logistics firms, and craft businesses. A prerequisite is a place of business in Germany. This opens the current bus funding to many fleet operators for electric mobility.
The funding subject encompasses several core areas that enable a holistic transition. These include:
The procurement of new vehicles with battery electric or fuel cell-based drives.
The retrofitting of existing vehicles to an alternative drive, provided that this is more economical or no suitable new vehicle is available on the market.
The necessary non-public charging infrastructure (e.g., on the premises) with a funding rate of 40 percent.
Additional maintenance infrastructure required for the operation of electric buses.
Feasibility studies that are subsidized by 50 percent to strategically plan the transition.
This broad coverage ensures that not only the vehicle but the entire ecosystem of electric mobility is supported.
Focus on Circular Economy: Why Supporting the Retrofit is a Game-Changer
A standout feature of the BMDV directive is the explicit mention of conversion as an eligible measure. This is a significant advantage for all operators with expensive specialized vehicles on a Sprinter basis or other buses with custom bodies. Instead of replacing a proven and fully depreciated vehicle base with high residual value, the HEERO D2E conversion allows continued use. This not only spares the budget but also valuable resources and is a prime example of a sustainable circular economy.
The funding covers up to 80 percent of the additional investment costs incurred in a conversion. For fleet managers, this means that the costs of converting a diesel Sprinter to a powerful e-transporter are drastically reduced. You protect your original investment in the vehicle body and simultaneously benefit from the lower operating and maintenance costs of an e-drive. The electrification of your bus fleet thus becomes the most economical option.
This approach is particularly relevant for municipalities with specialized vehicles or logistics companies with customized fleets.
The path to promotion: A two-step process
The application procedure for vehicle and infrastructure projects is structured in two stages to ensure efficient allocation of funds. It begins with the submission of a project outline and culminates in a formal application. This structured process ensures the quality of the funded projects. For fleet operators, it is important to closely observe the deadlines of the respective funding calls.
The process is divided into the following steps:
Publication of the funding call: The BMDV publishes calls for the submission of project outlines with specific deadlines and requirements.
Submission of the project outline: In the first stage, applicants submit a project outline via the online portal "easy-Online". This outline describes the planned project.
Evaluation and prioritization: The submitted outlines are evaluated based on criteria such as CO2 reduction potential, economic viability, and fleet share.
Invitation to submit a full application: Projects that are rated positively are invited to submit a formal funding application.
Application review and approval: After a final review of the full application, the approval authority decides on funding within the framework of available budgetary funds.
A careful preparation of the documents is the key to success. The checklist for the funding application helps to meet all requirements.
Focus on cost-effectiveness: Maximizing TCO benefits through promotion
The BMDV guideline for bus funding 2025 not only reduces acquisition costs (CAPEX), but also sustainably improves the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). With a subsidy of 80% on the additional costs of an e-bus or a conversion, the initial investment is pushed down to the level of a diesel vehicle or even below. This significantly accelerates the Return on Investment (ROI). For a fleet operator with 10 buses, this can mean savings of over 1 million euros.
The true savings become apparent 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 can be directly realized through the funding. The 80 percent funding rate for e-buses is the strongest incentive to act now.
Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefit from a bonus of up to 20 percentage points on infrastructure funding, further reducing overall costs. Thus, electrification becomes the economically and ecologically superior solution.
Your advantage with HEERO: Partnership for a successful transformation
The BMDV Guideline Bus Promotion 2025 is an excellent opportunity, but 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 accompany you from the first analysis to the creation of a convincing project outline to the commissioning of your e-fleet. Our patented D2E conversion for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a proven solution perfectly tailored to the funding criteria.
We support you in demonstrating the economic viability of your project with a detailed TCO analysis and proving the ecological benefits. Whether for municipalities, logistics companies, or trades, we develop a customized solution that meets your operational requirements and maximizes funding. Leverage our experience from numerous successful fleet projects. The promotion of charging infrastructure is an integral part of our concept.
Start transforming your fleet now. Request a personal consultation or book a daily test free of charge to experience the performance and reliability of our vehicles firsthand. Heero makes the switch to electromobility easy, economical, and future-proof.
More useful links
The official website of the Federal Government provides comprehensive information on political initiatives and funding programs, including the transition in transportation and electromobility.
The NOW GmbH is a federal owned company that coordinates the development and implementation of funding programs for sustainable mobility and energy, such as the federal funding for e-buses.
The Project Management Jülich (PtJ) is an institution of the Jülich Research Center and supports federal ministries in the implementation of research and innovation funding programs, including the evaluation of applications for e-bus funding.
FAQ
What are the main requirements for funding?
The main requirements are that the project has not yet started, the electricity used for the e-buses demonstrably comes from renewable sources, and the applicant has an establishment in Germany. The exact requirements are specified in the respective funding call.
Does the BMDV also support the charging infrastructure?
Yes, the necessary non-public charging, hydrogen refueling, and maintenance infrastructure for the operation of funded buses is subsidized with an aid intensity of 40 percent of eligible expenses.
Is there a bonus for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?
Yes, for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), an increase in the aid intensity by 20 or 10 percentage points is possible in infrastructure funding.
How does the application process work?
It is a two-stage process. First, a project outline is submitted. After a positive evaluation, applicants are asked to submit a formal, detailed funding application. Applications must be submitted via the electronic system 'easy-Online'.
Can I also receive funding for planning my transition?
Yes, the creation of feasibility studies and analyses of deployment possibilities for buses with alternative drives is subsidized with 50 percent of the expenses to support strategic planning.
How does Heero assist with the funding application?
Heero supports you as a strategic partner throughout the entire process. We assist in creating the technical and economic foundations for your project outline, provide TCO analyses, and ensure that your project optimally meets the funding criteria to maximize your chances of success.
