E-Bus Funding 2025: Secure an 80 percent grant for your fleet.
The electrification of bus fleets is a central task for transport companies and municipalities. With the current funding directive from the federal government, this investment is more attractive than ever before. Secure a funding rate of up to 80 percent for e-buses and make your fleet future-proof.
The topic briefly and concisely
The BMDV supports the purchase or conversion of e-buses with up to 80% of the additional investment costs.
The current funding call runs until August 31, 2025, and also includes charging infrastructure with up to 40% subsidy.
The retrofitting of existing vehicles is a fundable and particularly economical alternative to purchasing new ones.
Rising operating costs and strict emission regulations are forcing fleet operators to act. The switch to emission-free drives is inevitable, but the high initial investments present a significant hurdle. This is precisely where the federal government comes in: With the “Guideline for the Promotion of Alternative Drives for Buses” and a funding rate of 80 percent for e-buses by 2025, the transition is being heavily subsidized. This program makes electrification not only the ecologically but also the economically logical choice for municipalities and private companies. Heero is your partner to fully exploit this potential.
Promotion Offensive 2025: Federal Government Accelerates the Transport Transition
The federal government is intensifying its efforts for climate-friendly mobility with a clear focus on public transport. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is specifically supporting the market ramp-up of buses with alternative drives through its policy. The goal is ambitious: around 3,500 climate-friendly buses are to be brought onto German roads through the program. This opens a crucial window of opportunity for transport companies and municipalities. Project proposals for the current funding call can still be submitted until August 31, 2025. This deadline marks a unique opportunity to set the course for an emission-free fleet. The funds provided, amounting to around 1.2 billion euros, underline the seriousness of this project. This makes the necessary transformation of fleet management feasible for many companies.
Analysis of the funding conditions: Who benefits from the 80 percent quota?
The high funding rate is aimed at a broad spectrum of applicants, including public transport companies and private bus operators. Up to 80 percent of the additional investment costs for the acquisition of battery-electric or fuel cell-based buses compared to a diesel reference vehicle are subsidized. This drastically reduces acquisition costs and significantly improves the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) balance. Additionally, the necessary charging and refueling infrastructure is subsidized with a rate of up to 40 percent. Even higher funding rates are possible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This structure makes the program particularly attractive for municipal and medium-sized businesses. The funding is deliberately designed to be technology-neutral to accelerate the broad adoption of new drives. Thus, the transition to future-proof technologies becomes economically feasible for a larger user group.
The clever alternative: E-bus retrofitting as an economic lever
In addition to new purchases, the funding guideline explicitly focuses on converting existing diesel vehicles. Here, Heero offers a technologically leading solution with the patented D2E conversion, which is based on the principle of the circular economy. Instead of scrapping proven vehicles with expensive special bodies, they receive a second, electric life. This not only conserves valuable resources but also your budget. The advantages of a conversion are diverse:
Preservation of expensive and proven vehicle bodies.
Significantly lower investment costs compared to new purchases.
Up to 80 percent funding on the total conversion costs.
Quick implementation within a few weeks.
Reduction of CO2 emissions by 100 percent in operation.
Especially for logistics companies or craft businesses with special vehicles, the funded conversion is the most economical option. This approach enables a quick and cost-efficient modernization of your fleet.
The path to promotion: Successful application submission by August 2025
The submission of project outlines is carried out via the online portal "easy-Online" and requires careful preparation. The allocation of funds takes place in a competitive procedure in which projects are evaluated based on their CO2 avoidance and economic efficiency. A detailed presentation of the deployment concept and expected efficiency is therefore crucial for success. The deadline for submission ends on August 31, 2025, with approval subject to the adoption of the 2025 federal budget. An early and professionally prepared application is the key to obtaining funding. As your partner, Heero accompanies you through the entire process, from conception to the final funding application. This ensures that your project meets all the criteria for the maximum funding rate.
Holistically planned: Use charging infrastructure with up to 40% funding
An e-bus is only as good as the charging infrastructure that supports it. The funding guideline of the BMDV takes this into account and subsidizes the development of the necessary infrastructure by up to 40 percent. This includes both charging stations at the depot and fast charging points along the route. A well-thought-out plan is essential here to ensure fleet availability of over 95 percent and to optimize operational processes. Heero offers you a comprehensive solution that goes far beyond the vehicle. We analyze your needs and design a customized charging infrastructure solution for you. The combined funding of vehicles and infrastructure significantly reduces the overall cost of the system transition. Thus, the move to electromobility becomes a manageable and economically feasible project.
CO2 reduction as a core criterion for E-bus funding
A central goal of the funding program is the measurable reduction of greenhouse gases in the transport sector. The funded vehicles are expected to save around 2.6 million tons of CO2 over their lifetime. Applicants must therefore convincingly demonstrate in their project outline how their project contributes to CO2 reduction. This is a decisive criterion in the competitive selection process. With a HEERO E-Sprinter, you reduce direct emissions during operation to zero. Our D2E conversion even improves the CO2 balance twice by avoiding emissions from the new production of a vehicle. This focus on sustainability and effective CO2 savings positions your project optimally for successful funding. Electrification thus becomes a direct contribution to the climate goals of your municipality or company.
More useful links
The official website of the Federal Government provides comprehensive information on political initiatives and funding programs, including the transition in transportation and electromobility.
The NOW GmbH is a federal owned company that coordinates the development and implementation of funding programs for sustainable mobility and energy, such as the federal funding for e-buses.
The Project Management Jülich (PtJ) is an institution of the Jülich Research Center and supports federal ministries in the implementation of research and innovation funding programs, including the evaluation of applications for e-bus funding.
FAQ
What exactly is subsidized in the E-Bus funding?
The investment excess expenses for battery and fuel cell buses compared to a comparable diesel bus (up to 80%), the costs for retrofitting a diesel vehicle (up to 80%), as well as the purchase and installation of the necessary charging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure (up to 40%).
Is the funding for 2025 already secured?
The call for funding is based on the government's draft of the federal budget for 2025. The final approval of the projects is therefore subject to the condition that the allocated funds are approved by the Bundestag.
Which documents are needed for the funding application?
For the first stage, a project outline is needed that describes the project, the expected CO2 savings, the deployment concept, and the funding requirement. Submission is made online. Heero supports you in creating all necessary documents.
Can I also use the funding for retrofitting my Mercedes-Benz Sprinter?
Yes, the funding is not limited to certain vehicle types. Retrofitting commercial vehicles like the Sprinter to an electric drive is eligible for funding, provided the criteria of the guideline are met. Our D2E retrofit is specifically designed for such cases.
Does Heero offer support in the application process?
Yes, we offer comprehensive consultancy that covers the entire process from analyzing your needs to designing the most economical solution (new purchase or retrofit) to preparing the funding application. Request a free consultation now.
What happens after the submission of the project outline?
After timely submission by August 31, 2025, the outlines are evaluated in a competitive procedure. Successful projects are invited to submit a formal funding application. Approval is expected after the Federal Budget Act comes into force in fall 2025.
