Securing the conversion as a sustainable investment in the future of your company.
Secure up to 425 kilometers of range after a diesel-to-electric upgrade – all without the high costs of a new vehicle. Retrofitting your existing fleet is not only a response to rising diesel prices and strict climate regulations, but also a strategic decision for efficiency and sustainability.
The topic briefly and concisely
The conversion of diesel commercial vehicles to electric drive was subsidized with up to 80% of the additional costs until 2024; no new funding calls are planned.
By continuing to use the chassis and structure (circular economy), retrofitting is often more economical than buying new and reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Modern DTE systems offer practical ranges of up to 500 km and fast charging powers of up to 165 kW, which qualifies them for most applications.
The electrification of commercial vehicle fleets is one of the greatest challenges of the next three years for many companies. Bureaucratic hurdles, high investment costs and uncertainty regarding range and charging infrastructure often slow down progress. At the same time, the EU Clean Vehicles Directive and rising CO₂ prices are forcing action. Presenting the conversion as a sustainable investment in the future of your company is the decisive step. Instead of writing off expensive special bodies, you can preserve them through conversion; companies were able to benefit from up to 80% government funding until 2024. This approach not only protects your budget, but is also a clear commitment to the circular economy.
Your strategic advantages at a glance
The decision to convert is more than a technical modernization; it is a commercially prudent strategic move. In doing so, you secure four decisive advantages for the next ten years.
Classify 80% subsidy rate: The federal government's KsNI subsidy guideline subsidized the conversion up to 2024 with up to 80% of the additional costs compared to a diesel; new calls for funding are not planned.
Reduce total cost of ownership (TCO): Electric drives reduce your operating costs by at least 30% through eliminated oil changes and lower energy costs.
Prove sustainability: By converting instead of buying new, you avoid the CO₂ emissions of vehicle production and save valuable resources.
Create future-proofing: With an emission-free fleet, you meet all requirements of the Clean Vehicles Directive and secure access to all low-emission zones.
This combination of financial and emission-related advantages makes conversion the first choice for forward-looking fleet managers.
Your 4-point plan for profitable fleet electrification
A structured process is the key to success in order to clearly clarify the funding situation and economic viability. With this checklist, you can safely navigate through all phases.
Conduct a needs analysis: Analyze the daily driving profiles and range requirements of your fleet for at least 30 days.
Check funding opportunities: Have it assessed how the 80% vehicle and 40% infrastructure subsidies applicable until 2024 are to be evaluated today.
Create TCO comparison: Calculate the total costs in detail and compare the conversion with a new diesel purchase over ten years.
Plan implementation: Define a schedule for the conversion of the first vehicles and the setup of the charging infrastructure with up to 165 kW charging power.
Many companies underestimate the savings in maintenance and taxes, which often amount to more than 50%. A detailed analysis uncovers these potentials and forms the basis for the next phase: securing financing.
Funding pots in retrospect: Up to 80% subsidy
The subsidy landscape in Germany has significantly reduced electrification costs over the years. The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) has specifically supported companies.
The funding guideline "Climate-friendly commercial vehicles and infrastructure" (KsNI) was the central instrument. It subsidized the additional investment expenditures for a conversion with up to 80%. The necessary charging infrastructure was also funded with 40%. The KsNI funding ran until 2024; new funding calls are not planned.
This funding is a direct response to EU specifications such as the Clean Vehicles Directive, which is anchored in the German "Clean Road Vehicles Act" (SaubFahrzeugBeschG). This law obliges public clients to comply with fixed quotas for emission-free vehicles, which increases the pressure on private service providers. Even without an active program, you can proactively achieve these sustainability goals in the fleet. In this way, a regulatory obligation becomes an economic lever to reduce costs in the long term.
TCO analysis: How retrofitting reduces total costs
The acquisition costs are only part of the truth; the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is decisive. This key figure includes all costs over the entire service life of a vehicle of up to 15 years.
A conversion significantly reduces the TCO. While the initial costs were heavily reduced by the 80% subsidy running until 2024, you benefit in the long term from lower variable costs. Studies show that energy costs per 100 kilometers for an electric van are often 50-70% lower than diesel costs. In addition, there are lower maintenance expenses, as oil changes, exhaust system repairs, and AdBlue are completely eliminated.
A mini-case for illustration:
A trade business converts a Sprinter with expensive shelving.
The range of up to 425 km covers 95% of all daily operations.
The annual savings in operating costs and taxes amount to over 4,000 euros per vehicle.
The amortization calculation for electrification shows a return on investment in less than four years.
These figures prove that conversion is not only the smarter choice in terms of emissions, but above all economically, especially in the context of the circular economy.
Circular economy in practice: The technological advantages of DTE retrofitting
The conversion is a prime example of a lived circular economy. Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle with a valuable body, its life cycle is extended by more than ten years.
The core of the vehicle – chassis, body, and special body – is preserved. Only the fossil powertrain is replaced by a highly efficient electric drive. Our HEERO systems offer impressive performance data. The HEERO eTransporter achieves a range of up to 500 km with a 96 kWh net battery. Even the medium low-floor bus achieves up to 300 km with its 115 kWh battery and charges to 80% in under 45 minutes thanks to 165 kW DC charging power.
This technology not only preserves the value of your existing vehicles, but even increases it. You receive a modern, quiet, and powerful electric vehicle that is perfectly tailored to your needs. This makes the conversion a strategic decision that intelligently combines economy and emission balance.
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More useful links
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) offers tables and data on new vehicle registrations in Germany.
The Federal Environment Agency provides information on low emission zones in Germany, which were established to reduce fine dust pollution.
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) addresses commercial vehicles with alternative drivetrains and their importance for climate protection in transport.
The Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) provides information on the Climate Protection and Sustainability in Transport (KSNI) funding program.
This study report by the German Logistics Association (BVL) addresses topics related to transport and supply chain management.
The Fraunhofer Institute SCS describes references in the field of environmental and climate protection in logistics.
The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) addresses the promotion of the circular economy for vehicles.
This factsheet by the ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) analyzes the total cost of ownership (TCO) of battery-electric trucks (BETs) in Europe, with a focus on Germany.
The German Energy Agency (dena) focuses on electromobility as an opportunity for power grids.
