Buy or Retrofit an Electric Transporter: Your 4-Step Plan and the Current State of Funding
Up to 425 kilometers of range after an upgrade – without the costs and delivery times of a new vehicle. The federal funding round for commercial vehicles ran until 2024; since August 2024, no new funding calls are planned.
The topic briefly and concisely
The 80% KsNI funding for e-transporters and conversions ran until 2024; new funding calls are not planned.
The conversion of a diesel transporter (DTE) is often more economical than purchasing a new one due to TCO advantages and the preservation of special superstructures.
HEERO e-Transporters offer practical tested ranges of up to 500 km and DC fast charging with up to 135 kW.
Rising diesel prices due to CO2 pricing, complex bureaucracy, and strict climate regulations such as the EU's Clean Vehicles Directive are putting your fleet under pressure. Many companies are faced with the decision to buy a new electric transporter or find an alternative. Converting proven diesel vehicles to a powerful electric drive is often the smarter solution. It not only conserves valuable resources in the sense of the circular economy, but also secures your investments in expensive special bodies. This guide shows you in four clear steps how to set the course for a future-proof, cost-efficient fleet; until 2024, government funding covered up to 80% of the additional costs.
Your 4-point checklist for the transition
Switching to electromobility requires strategic planning to optimize costs and benefits. The federal KsNI funding period ran until 2024, making a resilient profitability calculation all the more important. These four steps guide you systematically to the best solution for your fleet.
Conduct a requirements analysis: Analyze the daily driving routes and the requirements profile of your vehicles. Our HEERO eTransporters offer a range of up to 500 km, which is more than sufficient for most deployment scenarios.
Compare total cost of ownership (TCO): Do not just look at the purchase price. A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis shows that retrofitting is often more cost-effective than buying a new vehicle due to savings in energy, maintenance, and CO2 pricing.
Check funding opportunities: The BMDV funding guideline KsNI subsidized the conversion with up to 80% of the additional costs. It ran until 2024, and no new funding calls are planned; projects that have already been approved will be fully funded.
Plan the charging infrastructure: The charging infrastructure must be planned parallel to the vehicle conversion. It was also eligible for funding; we will check what is possible today in your free funding analysis.
Careful execution of these points ensures that your decision in favor of e-mobility will be an economic and operational success.
Deadlines and funding pools: An 80% subsidy was available until 2024
The German government supported the transition to clean drives under the KsNI directive (Climate-Friendly Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure) with attractive subsidies. For businesses, this represented an opportunity to significantly reduce investment costs. The funding rate for vehicle electrification was up to 80% of the additional investment expenses compared to a reference diesel vehicle.
This funding applied both to the purchase of a new electric van and to the diesel-to-electric conversion (DTE) we offer. In addition, the installation of the necessary charging infrastructure was subsidized with 40% of the expenses. The crucial information for your planning: the KsNI ran until 2024 and has been discontinued since August 2024, with no new funding calls planned. Already approved projects will be fully funded. Forward-looking planning remains crucial.
TCO analysis: Why retrofitting often beats buying new
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), meaning the total operating costs, is the decisive key figure for an economical fleet. It comprises far more than just the acquisition costs. While the initial investment for a new electric van can be high, retrofitting already scores points here with lower costs.
The real advantages, however, become apparent in daily operations. Here is an exemplary overview of the cost drivers:
Energy costs: Electricity is significantly cheaper per kilometer than diesel, the price of which continues to increase due to the rising CO2 pricing.
Maintenance: An electric motor has significantly fewer wear parts than an internal combustion engine, which reduces maintenance costs by up to 50%.
Taxes & levies: Electric vehicles benefit from tax reliefs and are exempt from the CO2 component of the truck toll.
Depreciation: Through retrofitting, the value of your existing vehicle, including expensive custom bodies, is preserved and secured for the future.
Our analysis shows that the TCO of a retrofitted Sprinter over a holding period of eight years can be up to 30% lower than those of a new diesel vehicle. This cost advantage makes electrification a strategically wise investment.
Circular Economy in Practice: The Diesel-to-Electric (DTE) Conversion
Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle, the conversion extends its lifecycle. This principle of the circular economy is not only sustainable but also makes extreme economic sense. The conversion shows its full strength particularly in the case of vans with expensive and complex special bodies, such as refrigerated boxes, workshop equipment, or tail lifts.
The process is highly efficient: We remove the diesel drivetrain and replace it with our patented electric drive technology. Afterwards, your HEERO Sprinter achieves a practical range of up to 425 kilometers. The battery with a net capacity of 96 kWh can be recharged to 80% in around 40 minutes at a DC fast charging station with up to 135 kW. You keep your proven vehicle and your special bodies, while meeting all modern requirements for noise and emission protection and saving operating costs in the long term.
Performance and range: Facts instead of compromises
Concerns about insufficient range are among the biggest reservations when it comes to buying electric vans. Our vehicles are designed for tough daily work and deliver field-tested performance values based on real operating data, not just WLTP laboratory values. We focus on transparency so that you can plan reliably.
HEERO vehicle specifications at a glance:
HEERO eTransporter: Up to 500 km range, ideal for distribution transport.
HEERO ePritschenwagen (EK & DoKa): Up to 400 km range for trade and municipalities.
HEERO DTE-Sprinter (conversion): Up to 425 km range, the perfect solution for existing fleets.
Battery & Charging: All models use a 110 kWh (gross) / 96 kWh (net) battery and charge with up to 135 kW DC power.
These values show that our electric panel vans and flatbed trucks are more than up to daily demands. The combination of long range and fast charging times ensures maximum availability of your fleet.
Your next step: a free analysis of your funding opportunities
The federal KsNI funding ran until 2024 and was discontinued in August 2024. This is no reason to hesitate to set the course for a clean and economical future for your fleet. We support you in mastering the complexity of the funding application and finding the optimal solution for you – whether you buy a new electric transporter or convert your proven fleet.
Start your funding analysis: Answer three questions and receive your subsidy roadmap with the status of the funding programs.
To the free analysis
free of charge · non-binding · factual
Please note that this information represents general guidance and does not replace legal or funding advice.
More useful links
The Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) provides detailed information on the Climate Protection and Mobility (KSNI) funding program.
The German Bundestag publishes short reports on the topic of electromobility.
The National Centre for Charging Infrastructure provides comprehensive information on funding programs in the field of electromobility.
The L-Bank Baden-Württemberg provides information on its BW-e-Nutzfahrzeuge funding program.
e-mobil BW offers news on funding for electric trucks and charging infrastructure.
Bayern Innovativ explains the funding program for setting up company-owned charging infrastructures for electric trucks in Bavaria.
The Funding Database of the BMWi contains information on the funding program "Electric Commercial Vehicle Applications and Infrastructures".
