Increase driving comfort for employees through continuous electric drive: A guide to retrofit.
Increase driving comfort for employees through continuous electric drive: A guide to retrofit.
Did you know that over 67% of Germans feel annoyed by traffic noise? A continuously variable electric drive not only reduces noise, but also significantly increases driving comfort and lowers your operating costs. Converting your existing fleet is the pragmatic way to take advantage of these benefits; the state subsidy for this ran until 2024.
The topic briefly and concisely
A continuously variable electric drive enhances driving comfort by eliminating gear shifts and engine vibrations, reducing driver fatigue.
Fleet operators were able to apply for funding of up to 80% of the additional costs for converting diesel to electric vehicles until 2024; no new calls for funding are planned.
Retrofitting in terms of circular economy is often more economical (lower TCO) and resource-efficient than purchasing a new electric vehicle, especially for specialized builds.
Driving comfort for your employees is more than a luxury – it is a decisive factor for productivity and satisfaction. Yet diesel engines cause noise, vibrations, and require constant gear shifting, which leads to fatigue. Retrofitting to a continuously variable electric drive offers a direct solution. This article explains how you can noticeably increase driving comfort for your employees, lower operating costs (Total Cost of Ownership), and how to classify the state funding of up to 80% that ran until 2024 through conversion. We show you in four clear steps how to make the transition pragmatic and economically sensible while using the principles of the circular economy.
Beyond noise and vibration: The measurable benefits of electric drives for the driver
Switching to electromobility fundamentally improves your drivers' working conditions. A continuously variable electric drive eliminates the constant vibrations and loud engine noise of a diesel, which, according to the Federal Environment Agency, causes annoyance for two-thirds of the population. The result is a quiet workspace that promotes concentration and reduces stress by a proven 23%. Smooth acceleration without gear-shifting interruptions ensures a relaxed driving experience, especially in stop-and-go traffic. This directly contributes to reducing illness-related absences, which are partly caused by noise and stress. The EU's Clean Vehicles Directive already demands a reduction in emissions, whereby 10% of heavy commercial vehicles were required to be low-emission by 2025. Retrofitting is therefore not only an investment in increasing driving comfort for employees by retrofitting a continuously variable electric drive, but also in the future viability of your fleet. This technological upgrade makes your company a more attractive employer in times of skilled labor shortages.
In 4 steps to an e-fleet: Your conversion plan and the funding situation
Strategic planning ensures you achieve maximum benefits with minimal effort. This checklist makes the transition predictable and precisely calculated:
Needs Analysis and Fleet Check: Analyze the daily driving profiles and range requirements of your vehicles. A HEERO DTE-Sprinter, for example, achieves up to 425 km, which is sufficient for most urban and regional operations.
Subsidy Analysis: Check your eligibility for subsidies. The KsNI guideline of the BMDV subsidized the DTE conversion with up to 80% of the additional costs and the setup of the charging infrastructure with 40%; it ran until 2024.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Forecast: Calculate the Total Cost of Ownership. Studies show that electric trucks are already cheaper than diesel over a five-year retention period, thanks to lower energy and maintenance costs.
Implementation and Commissioning: Plan the conversion and the installation of the charging infrastructure. HEERO ensures a fast conversion so that you can electrify your fleet without long downtimes.
This structured process ensures that you not only increase driving comfort but also exploit all economic and regulatory advantages.
Technology for Smooth Gliding: How the Continuously Variable Drive Works
The core of the superior driving experience lies in the continuously variable drive, also known as Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Unlike a conventional transmission with fixed gears, it continuously adjusts the gear ratio without interrupting the tractive power. For the driver, this means absolutely smooth acceleration, comparable to the start of a modern train. This technology increases efficiency by up to four percent, as the engine always operates in the optimum speed range. A HEERO Tourer for nine people achieves a range of up to 400 km with its 110 kWh battery and efficient drivetrain. Fast charging with up to 135 kW ensures that the minibus is ready for the next stage in about 30 minutes. The conversion preserves the familiar chassis, while the drivetrain is elevated to an entirely new level of comfort and efficiency, ideal for the transport of school or patient groups. In this way, a noisy diesel becomes a quiet and powerful electric vehicle.
Cost comparison: Why retrofitting reduces the total cost of ownership
The initially higher investment costs of electrification are more than offset by lower operating costs. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is the decisive benchmark for economic efficiency. A study by the ICCT proves that battery-electric trucks in Germany, taking subsidies into account, are already achieving TCO parity with diesel vehicles today. The savings are made up of several factors:
Energy costs: Electricity is significantly cheaper per kilometer than diesel, the price of which will continue to rise due to CO₂ pricing.
Maintenance and repairs: An electric motor has up to 70% fewer moving parts than an internal combustion engine, which drastically reduces maintenance requirements.
Taxes and tolls: Electric commercial vehicles are currently exempt from the truck toll, which represents significant annual savings.
Subsidies: The KsNI subsidy of up to 80% of the additional costs significantly reduced the acquisition investment until 2024.
Especially for vehicles with expensive special bodies, such as film production vehicles or library buses, retrofitting is far superior to buying new. The TCO analysis clearly shows that electrification is not only an ecological, but above all an economic necessity.
Deadlines and quotas: Which funding recently applied and what remains today
Regulatory pressure remains, while the funding landscape has changed. The KsNI directive of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) was a key lever for reducing the additional costs of conversion by up to 80%. It ran until 2024; since August 2024, no new funding calls are planned. In parallel, the Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) obliges public procurement authorities to meet fixed quotas for clean vehicles. Until the end of 2025, 45% of new buses and 10% of trucks had to be low-emission or emission-free. This quota has been tightened starting in 2026 to 65% for buses and 15% for trucks, whereby a significant share must be completely emission-free. Failure to meet the quotas risks difficulties in the awarding of public contracts. Conversion is the fastest way to achieve compliance; we clarify on a case-by-case basis which funding programs are open for this. In this way, the modernization of your fleet becomes a calculable and profitable project.
Renovation instead of new purchase: A win for the environment and budget through circular economy
The decision to convert is a clear commitment to the circular economy. Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle, its lifespan is extended by many years. This approach significantly reduces the demand for raw materials and energy that would be required to manufacture a completely new vehicle. A vehicle consists of over 200,000 individual parts; the continued use of the chassis, body, and interior saves tons of CO₂. Doubling circularity in the economy could close the global emissions gap. Converting a Sprinter avoids the production-related CO₂ emissions of a new vehicle, which can exceed 10 tons depending on the model. Comparing a new purchase with electrification quickly makes it clear that conversion is the ecologically and economically smarter choice. You not only conserve valuable resources, but also your budget. This sustainable approach strengthens your image as a responsible company.
More useful links
Wikipedia offers general information on electric vehicles, their definition, history, and technology.
ADAC provides information, tests, and models for electric vans.
DIHK offers a guide on electromobility specifically for businesses.
Statista provides current statistics on the number of electric cars in Germany.
Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität (BALM) provides information on the Climate Protection and Sustainability in Transport (KSNI) funding program.
Umweltbundesamt provides a detailed analysis of the environmental balance of motor vehicles.
Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung (DGUV) highlights safety aspects of electromobility.
Fraunhofer IWKS provides a flyer on cycles in electromobility, including recycling and sustainability.
Europäisches Parlament informs about new EU regulations for more sustainable and ethically sound batteries.
