Purchasing or Retrofitting a Transporter: Your 4-Step Plan for 80% Funding until August 31, 2025
Up to 425 kilometers of range after a diesel-to-electric upgrade – without the costs and delivery times of a new vehicle. The time for electrifying your fleet is running out, as the current funding round ends on August 31, 2025.
The topic briefly and concisely
The application deadline for the 80% funding for e-transporters and conversions ends on August 31, 2025.
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 like the EU's Clean Vehicles Directive are putting pressure on your fleet. Many companies are faced with the decision to purchase a new electric transporter or find an alternative. Retrofitting proven diesel vehicles with a powerful electric drive is often the smarter solution. It not only conserves valuable resources in terms of circular economy, but also protects your investments in expensive specialized builds. This guide will show you in four clear steps how to set the course for a future-proof, cost-effective fleet and benefit from 80% government funding.
Your 4-point checklist for the transition
The switch to electric mobility requires strategic planning to optimize costs and benefits. With the deadline for the current funding period on August 31, 2025, pragmatic action is required. These four steps will systematically lead you to the best solution for your fleet.
Conduct needs analysis: Analyze the daily driving distances and the requirements profile of your vehicles. Our HEERO eTransporter offer up to 500 km range, which is more than sufficient for most use scenarios.
Compare total costs (TCO): Do not only consider the purchase price. A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis shows that conversion, due to savings in energy, maintenance, and CO2 pricing, is often cheaper than a new purchase.
Check funding opportunities: The current BMDV funding guideline subsidizes conversion with 80% of the additional costs. The application deadline ends on August 31, 2025 - acting quickly secures you maximum grants.
Plan charging infrastructure: Alongside vehicle conversion, the charging infrastructure must be planned. There is also a 40% subsidy for this, which we consider in your free funding analysis.
Careful completion of these points ensures that your decision for e-mobility will be a success economically and operationally.
Deadlines and funding pots: 80% grant only until August 2025
The Federal Government supports the transition to clean drives within the framework of the KsNI guideline (Climate-Friendly Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure) with attractive subsidies. For you, this means a unique opportunity to drastically reduce investment costs. The funding rate for vehicle electrification is 80% of the additional investment expenses compared to a diesel reference vehicle.
This funding applies both to the purchase of a new electric transporter as well as to the diesel-to-electric conversion (DTE) that we offer. Additionally, the establishment of the necessary charging infrastructure is subsidized at 40% of the costs. However, the crucial information for your planning is the deadline: Applications for this funding period must be submitted by August 31, 2025. Given the processing times, it is advisable not to postpone the process. A forward-looking plan is crucial now.
TCO analysis: Why retrofitting often beats buying new
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), also known as the overall operating costs, is the key figure for an economical fleet. It encompasses far more than just the acquisition costs. While the initial investment for a new electric transporter can be high, the conversion already excels with lower costs.
However, the real advantages become apparent during ongoing operation. Here is a sample overview of the cost drivers:
Energy costs: Electricity is significantly cheaper per kilometer than diesel, the price of which continues to rise due to increasing CO2 pricing.
Maintenance: An electric motor has significantly fewer wear parts than a combustion engine, reducing maintenance costs by up to 50%.
Taxes & fees: E-vehicles benefit from tax reductions and are exempt from the CO2 component of the truck toll.
Depreciation: The conversion preserves the value of your existing vehicle, including costly specialized structures, and secures it for the future.
Our analysis shows that the TCO of a converted Sprinter can be up to 30% lower than that of a new diesel vehicle over a holding period of eight years. 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 Diesel-to-Electric conversion (DTE) extends its lifecycle. This principle of circular economy is not only sustainable but also economically extremely sensible. Particularly with transporters with expensive and complex special bodies, such as refrigerated boxes, workshop setups, or lifts, the conversion fully plays out its strengths.
The process is highly efficient: We remove the diesel drivetrain and replace it with our patented E-drive technology. Your Heero DTE-Sprinter then attains a practical range of up to 425 kilometers. The battery with a net capacity of 96 kWh can be recharged to 80% at a DC fast-charging station with up to 135 kW in about 40 minutes. You retain your proven vehicle and your special bodies, but meet all modern requirements for noise and emissions protection and save operating costs in the long run.
Performance and range: Facts instead of compromises
The concern about insufficient range is one of the biggest reservations when it comes to buying e-vans. Our vehicles are designed for tough daily work and deliver performance values tested in practice, based on real usage data, not just WLTP lab values. We rely on transparency, so you can plan reliably.
HEERO vehicle specifications at a glance:
HEERO eTransporter: Up to 500 km range, ideal for distribution traffic.
HEERO ePritschenwagen (EK & DoKa): Up to 400 km range for craftsmen 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 vans and flatbed trucks are more than up to everyday demands. The combination of high range and fast charging time ensures maximum availability of your fleet.
Act now: Secure your free funding analysis
The time until the funding ends on August 31, 2025, is limited. Don't 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 are buying a new e-transporter or retrofitting your proven fleet.
Start your funding analysis: Answer three questions, receive your grant roadmap, and take advantage of the 80% funding.
For the free analysis
free · non-binding · timely
Please note that this information provides general orientation and does not replace legal or funding advice.
More useful links
The Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) provides detailed information on the funding program for Climate Protection and Mobility (KSNI).
The German Bundestag publishes brief news on the topic of electromobility.
The National Control Center for Charging Infrastructure provides comprehensive information on funding programs in the field of electromobility.
The L-Bank Baden-Württemberg informs about its funding program BW-e-commercial vehicles.
e-mobil BW offers reports on funding for electric trucks and charging infrastructure.
Bavaria Innovative explains the funding program for the establishment of company-owned charging infrastructures for electric trucks in Bavaria.
The Funding Database of the BMWi contains information on the funding program "E-commercial vehicle applications and infrastructures".
FAQ
Who benefits the most from converting a diesel van to electric drive?
The conversion is particularly advantageous for companies and municipalities that use vehicles with expensive or complex special superstructures (e.g., refrigerated boxes, workshop fittings, waste collection bodies). The preservation of these superstructures in combination with subsidies and lower operating costs (TCO) maximizes profitability.
What does Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) mean for an e-transporter?
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) or overall operating costs include all costs incurred over the entire lifespan of a vehicle. This includes purchase or conversion, energy (electricity vs. diesel), maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, subsidies, and residual value. E-transporters often have lower TCO than diesel because energy and maintenance costs are lower.
What is the Clean Vehicles Directive and does it affect my company?
The Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) is an EU directive implemented in Germany through the Clean Vehicles Procurement Act (SaubFahrzeugBeschG). It obligates public purchasers (e.g., municipalities) and certain sector purchasers to adhere to fixed quotas for low-emission and emission-free vehicles when procuring. This increases the pressure to electrify fleets.
Which battery and charging capacity do Heero e-transporters have?
Our standard models, including the DTE conversions, are equipped with a battery capacity of 110 kWh (gross) or 96 kWh (net). They support DC fast charging with a power of up to 135 kW, allowing charging from 10% to 80% in about 40 minutes.
What happens if I miss the funding deadline on August 31, 2025?
As of the current status, no new applications under the current KsNI funding guideline are possible after August 31, 2025. Whether and in what form future funding programs will be available is uncertain. An investment without the 80% funding would be significantly more costly.
Is the range of 425 km for a converted Sprinter a guaranteed value?
The specified range of up to 425 km is a realistic value that can be achieved under real conditions. The actual range, as with any vehicle, depends on factors such as driving style, load, topography, and ambient temperature. Our figures are deliberately realistic and should not be compared with the often optimistic WLTP values.
