Efficient fleet conversion: The entire process from pickup to delivery
Up to 425 km range after a diesel-to-electric upgrade – without the costs and effort of purchasing a new vehicle. Rising diesel prices, complex bureaucracy, and stringent climate regulations like the Clean Vehicles Directive demand pragmatic solutions for your fleet.
The topic briefly and concisely
The entire conversion process often takes less than 15 working days, from pickup to delivery.
State subsidies covered up to 80% of the conversion costs; the KsNI directive ran until 2024 and has been discontinued since August 2024.
The conversion (DTE) reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through lower energy and maintenance costs and extends the lifespan of expensive special structures.
This article explains the entire conversion process from pickup to delivery and shows how to make your commercial vehicles future-proof. We explain the path from the initial analysis of your fleet through the precise conversion to the handover of your electrified vehicle. You will receive a clear 4-point checklist that makes the entire process transparent. Learn how to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through conversion and how to classify government subsidies: The federal KsNI funding covered up to 80% of the additional costs until 2024, and new funding calls are not planned.
Your 4-point checklist for successful fleet electrification
Switching to electromobility does not have to be a complex, strenuous effort. With a standardized procedure, the entire conversion process from pickup to delivery becomes plannable and efficient. In just four steps, we transform your existing vehicles into powerful electric vans. This process ensures the preservation of your fleet's value and makes it fit for the requirements of the Clean Vehicles Directive. Here is your roadmap:
Analysis and Funding Check: In just one working day, we analyze your fleet and identify the potential savings. We check your eligibility for funding; government subsidies of up to 80% of the additional costs ran until 2024.
Vehicle Pickup and Preparation: Our team picks up your vehicle at the agreed time. A detailed incoming inspection is carried out at our plant, checking over 50 technical points.
Conversion: Within ten working days, our experts replace the combustion drivetrain with our patented electric drive system. The process includes the installation of an electric motor, power electronics, and a 110 kWh battery.
Quality Assurance and Delivery: After more than 100 test kilometers and a final quality control, we deliver your converted vehicle back to you. You will receive a comprehensive briefing and all relevant documents.
This structured approach minimizes the downtime of your vehicles to less than 15 days.
Funding and deadlines: the programs in retrospect
Financing the fleet transition was facilitated for years by government programs. The federal government supported the acquisition and conversion of commercial vehicles under the KsNI guideline on promoting climate-friendly commercial vehicles. The crucial point today is that this funding has been discontinued since August 2024 and no new funding calls are planned. The funding rates at that time were clearly defined:
Up to 80% of the additional investment costs for the conversion or the purchase of a new electric vehicle were covered.
Already approved projects will be fully funded; for the charging infrastructure at your company site, it is currently not possible to state in general terms which costs are eligible for funding.
This funding was a direct response to the European Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD), which obliges public contracting authorities to procure low-emission vehicles. By the end of 2025, for example, 45% of all newly procured buses must be clean, with half of them even completely emission-free. With our conversion solution, you meet these requirements and can also obtain a fixed cost estimate for your planning security. The strategic use of available funds lowers the entry barrier and accelerates amortization; we will clarify on a case-by-case basis which programs are currently open.
Reduce total costs by lowering operating expenses
The higher acquisition costs of an electric vehicle are often perceived as a hurdle. However, an analysis of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over the entire service life reveals a different picture. In addition to the acquisition, the TCO also includes energy, maintenance, taxes, and insurance. Studies show that the additional costs for an electric commercial vehicle are often amortized within four to six years due to the lower operating costs. The savings result from several factors:
Energy costs: The costs for electricity per 100 kilometers are significantly lower than for diesel.
Maintenance: An electric drivetrain has up to 90% fewer moving parts than an internal combustion engine, which drastically reduces maintenance efforts and wear.
Taxes and duties: Electric vehicles benefit from tax relief and are exempt from the CO₂-based truck toll.
Particularly for vehicles with expensive special bodies, conversion plays out its economic advantage. Instead of financing a completely new vehicle including the body, only the drivetrain is renewed. This not only protects the budget, but also ensures the continued use of proven and already depreciated bodies. Considering the TCO is therefore the key to an economically sound decision.
Technical performance and sustainability in focus
The practical suitability of electric commercial vehicles is determined by range, charging capacity, and service life. Modern DTE solutions are designed for demanding commercial operations. A HEERO DTE Sprinter, for example, achieves a practical range of up to 425 kilometers on a single battery charge. The installed batteries (110 kWh gross / 96 kWh net) can be charged to 80% at DC fast-charging stations with up to 135 kW in around 30 minutes. This enables efficient tour planning with minimal downtime. You can view the exact technical specifications at any time.
Circular economy as a sustainable principle
Converting existing vehicles is a prime example of the principles anchored in the Circular Economy Act (KrWG). Instead of scrapping a functioning vehicle, its life cycle is significantly extended by modernizing the drive system. Compared to producing a new van, this saves a considerable portion of manufacturing energy. Reusing the chassis, body, and special superstructures conserves valuable resources and significantly reduces your fleet's carbon footprint. This approach combines economic rationality with ecological responsibility and strengthens your company as a sustainable market player. The durability of components, such as cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, further underlines this advantage.
Path to fleet modernization: subsidized conversion until 2024
The entire conversion process, from pickup to delivery, is designed to offer you maximum security and transparency. From the first, non-binding analysis to the handover of your modernized e-transporter, less than three weeks often pass. The federal KsNI funding ran until 2024; independently of this, you position your fleet economically and sustainably for the future.
Start your funding analysis
Answer three questions and receive your subsidy roadmap with the current status of the funding programs.
Button: "To free analysis"
free of charge · non-binding · objective
More useful links
The Federal Environment Agency offers a comprehensive perspective on electric vehicles in road freight transport.
The Fraunhofer ISI publishes a press release on the potentials and challenges of electromobility in commercial road freight transport.
