Electric Flatbed Vans: Reducing operating costs – the 80% subsidy ran until 2024
Up to 400 kilometers of range after converting your flatbed truck – without the cost of a new vehicle. The federal KsNI funding ran until 2024; new funding calls are not planned, making the transition a strategic decision.
The topic briefly and concisely
The subsidy for an electric flatbed truck was up to 80% of the purchase or conversion costs; the KsNI directive ran until 2024 and was discontinued in August 2024.
A diesel-to-electric conversion (DTE) is often more economical than a new purchase, as expensive specialized setups are retained and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) decreases.
With a range of up to 400 km and a DC charging power of 135 kW, converted pickup trucks are fully practical for everyday work in trades and municipalities.
Rising diesel prices, complex bureaucracy, and the increasingly strict climate requirements of the Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) present fleet managers with enormous challenges. Especially for vehicles with expensive specialized bodies, such as an electric flatbed van, a complete new purchase is often uneconomical. The solution lies in the intelligent continued use of your proven vehicles. Retrofitting ensures not only your investment but also significantly reduces your Total Cost of Ownership. The government KsNI subsidy covered up to 80% of the additional costs of such a conversion until 2024; new funding calls are not planned. Which programs are currently open will be clarified on a case-by-case basis.
Your benefits: Electric flatbed and the 80% subsidy until 2024
Switching to an electric flatbed truck is more than a contribution to climate protection; it is a strategic investment in the future viability of your company. The framework conditions of recent years have supported this step with significant financial assistance. The federal KsNI funding ran until 2024 and has been discontinued since August 2024.
Here are the decisive facts for your planning:
80% subsidy: The funding guideline of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) covered up to 80 percent of the additional investment expenses for the acquisition or conversion of a flatbed truck until 2024.
40% for charging infrastructure: In parallel, up to 40 percent of the costs for setting up the necessary charging infrastructure at the company depot were funded.
Program discontinued: Since August 2024, no new funding calls are planned; already approved projects will be fully funded.
Ensure CVD compliance: With an electric flatbed truck, you easily meet the procurement quotas of the EU's Clean Vehicles Directive.
Following the expiration of the subsidies, it is primarily the clear regulatory advantages that drive the transition.
4-step plan for the electric flatbed: subsidies until 2024
The path to funding and your new electric flatbed transporter is straightforward with the right preparation. We have divided the process for you into four clear steps – even now, after the KsNI application deadline has expired. A typical example is a gardening and landscaping business that wants to convert its three Mercedes-Benz Sprinters with flatbed and crew cab to preserve the expensive bodies.
Conduct a needs analysis: Analyze your daily routes and average payload. Our HEERO e-flatbed trucks (single & crew cab) offer a practical range of up to 400 kilometers.
Select vehicle configuration: Choose between a new vehicle or a DTE conversion. Conversion is ideal to preserve your existing, high-quality flatbed bodies and reduce investment costs by over 50%.
Funding check: We check all requirements of the BMDV funding guidelines for you. The KsNI funding covered up to 80% of the additional investment expenses until 2024; no new funding calls are planned.
Prepare the application: With all documents, we will prepare the application together with you as soon as a suitable funding call is open; we will clarify which ones in each individual case.
Through this structured process, the bureaucracy becomes manageable, allowing you to focus on your core business.
Cost comparison: How the e-trolley lowers TCO
The higher acquisition costs of an electric vehicle are often perceived as a hurdle. However, an analysis of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), i.e., the total operating costs over the entire service life, shows a different picture. In addition to the acquisition, the TCO also includes energy, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and depreciation.
A direct comparison shows the advantages for an electric dropside van. Energy costs per 100 kilometers are often more than 50% lower for an electric vehicle than for a comparable diesel. In addition, expensive maintenance work such as oil changes or exhaust system repairs are eliminated. Over a holding period of eight years, savings of over 20,000 euros per vehicle can thus be realized. The state KsNI subsidy of up to 80% on the additional costs significantly reduced the initial investment until 2024; new funding calls are not planned. This leaves the electric dropside transport vehicle as the economically superior alternative through its operating costs.
Renovation instead of new purchase: Circular economy for professionals
For many craft and municipal businesses, the vehicle body is more valuable than the base vehicle itself. A DTE conversion is the answer here and a prime example of a functioning circular economy. Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle with a special body, its life is extended by at least ten years.
The process is highly efficient:
Preservation of the body: Your proven platform body is 100% preserved.
Field-tested technology: We equip your Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with an electric drive that offers up to 400 kilometers of range with a battery capacity of 96 kWh (net).
Fast charging: With up to 135 kW charging power, the battery is recharged to 80% in around 40 minutes.
CO₂ reduction: You not only save emissions during operation, but also avoid the CO₂ burden that would result from producing an entirely new vehicle.
This sustainable conversion solution not only protects your budget, but also valuable resources.
Charging infrastructure and lifespan: Secure into the future
One of the most frequently asked questions concerns the charging infrastructure. For a fleet with electric flatbed transporters, depot charging overnight is the most efficient method. The vehicles are ready for use every morning with 100% capacity. The installation of the charging stations on the company premises was subsidized with 40% of the costs, making the investment plannable.
The service life of the components is designed for durability. Our batteries are designed for at least 3,000 charging cycles, which corresponds to a mileage of well over 500,000 kilometers. Since the DTE conversion is built on the robust basis of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, you benefit from a proven and durable vehicle structure. This is how you secure the value of your fleet for the next decade. The transition to an electric fleet is therefore an investment with foresight.
Start your free funding analysis
The federal KsNI funding program ran until 2024 and has been discontinued since August 2024. Nevertheless, position your fleet economically and sustainably for the future. Answer three short questions and receive a tailored roadmap from us on how the former 80% subsidy for your electric flatbed transporter is to be classified today.
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More useful links
The Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) provides detailed information on the Climate Protection and Innovation in Commercial Vehicles (KSNI) funding program.
The Funding Database of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) lists the funding program for e-commercial vehicle applications and infrastructures.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) provides monthly statistics on new vehicle registrations.
The Fraunhofer ISI offers a study on the climate balance, costs, and potentials of different drive types for passenger cars and trucks.
The Federal Environment Agency publishes an analysis on the environmental balance of motor vehicles.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action provides information on framework conditions and incentives for electric vehicles.
The German Energy Agency (dena) provides a background paper on refueling and charging infrastructure for heavy-duty transport.
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) provides information on the topic of electromobility.
