Funding for charging infrastructure and e-buses 2025: What covered up to 80% of the costs
The electrification of bus fleets represents a major investment. With the right strategy, this can be mapped economically. The funding round for electric buses and charging infrastructure offered grants of up to 70% on the additional costs and 40% for the infrastructure; the call ended on July 21, 2026.
The topic briefly and concisely
Project outlines for e-bus funding could be submitted until July 21, 2026.
The funding covered up to 70% of the additional costs for e-buses/retrofits and 40% for the charging infrastructure; the call ended in 2026.
Both the purchase of new vehicles and the conversion of existing diesel vehicles were eligible for funding.
For municipalities and companies in Germany, the transition to locally emission-free commercial vehicle fleets is a key challenge, driven by rising operating costs and stricter environmental regulations. The German Federal Government actively supports this transformation with targeted programs. The "Directive for the Promotion of Alternative Drives for Buses in Passenger Transport" was a decisive lever in this regard. It significantly reduced the investment barriers for purchasing electric vehicles and setting up the necessary charging infrastructure. The 2026 funding call for buses ended on July 21, 2026. HEERO shows you how to assess the funding situation and future-proof your fleet.
Overview of the funding landscape 2025
The year 2025 marked a crucial turning point for the transport transition in Germany. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) sent a strong signal with the "Directive on the Promotion of Alternative Drives for Buses in Passenger Transport". Since 2021, around 3,500 buses have already been approved, which will save 2.8 million tons of CO₂ over their service life. For the period from 2021 to 2025, the Ministry provided 500 million euros solely for the expansion of publicly accessible charging infrastructure. These funds came partly from the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) and were co-financed via the EU's NextGenerationEU facility. The combination of vehicle and infrastructure funding was the key to economical fleet electrification. These programs were specifically designed to cushion the higher acquisition costs of electric vehicles and the investments in charging infrastructure. This made the transition plannable and profitable for logistics companies and municipal enterprises. The 2026 funding call for buses ended on July 21, 2026; the course for a sustainable and cost-effective fleet can be set independently of this.
The BMDV bus funding: What specifically was funded?
The core of the recent funding round was to support the reduction of emissions in passenger transport. Transport companies and other users from the bus industry were eligible to apply. The funding rate for purchasing or retrofitting buses to battery or fuel cell drives was recently up to 70% of the additional investment expenditure for low levels of electrification, otherwise 55%. For the necessary charging infrastructure, a grant of up to 40% of the total costs was awarded. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could receive a bonus of up to 20 percentage points under certain conditions. The following investments were eligible for funding:
Purchase of battery buses, including trolleybuses.
Purchase of fuel cell buses.
The retrofitting of conventional buses to alternative drives, which is particularly relevant for fleets with expensive special bodies.
Establishment of the non-public charging infrastructure necessary for operation.
Establishment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
Specific maintenance infrastructure for the new drive types.
This broad funding base enabled holistic planning of the fleet conversion. Learn more about the advantages of an e-bus retrofit with funding and how you can preserve existing assets. The 2026 funding call for buses ended on July 21, 2026; we will clarify which programs are currently open on a case-by-case basis.
Deadlines and application procedures: How the funding could be applied for
The application process was designed in two stages and on a competitive basis in order to identify the most effective projects. A new call for funding was launched on July 7, 2025. The deadline for submitting project outlines ended on August 31, 2025. The submission was made digitally via the online portal easy-Online. The submitted outlines were evaluated according to criteria such as CO₂ reduction, electrification rate, and funding requirement. Following a positive evaluation, applicants were requested to submit a formal funding application. The approval of the projects took place after the adoption of the Federal Budget Act in autumn 2025. Careful preparation is crucial, as our checklist for the funding application shows. The implementation of the program is coordinated by the project management agency Jülich (PtJ) and NOW GmbH. The 2026 call for funding for buses ended on July 21, 2026; a follow-up call has not been announced.
Focus on charging infrastructure: The foundation for e-operation
A powerful charging infrastructure is the backbone of any e-fleet. The BMDV directive therefore explicitly subsidized the installation of non-public charging points with up to 40% of the investment costs. This included both the hardware and the costs for the grid connection. The planning of the charging infrastructure must meet the specific requirements of the operation, such as depot charging processes overnight or opportunity charging along the route. The EU also supported the expansion through the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF), which provided over 578 million euros for charging infrastructure in heavy-duty transport until June 2025. Intelligent charging planning reduces operating costs through optimized charging cycles; the funding additionally reduced the investment costs. The correct dimensioning of the charging capacity and the choice of location are crucial for the efficiency of the overall system. The funding for battery buses is entry-linked to infrastructure planning. This investment secures the long-term performance of your electrified fleet.
Maximize efficiency through conversion and promotion
Electrification does not have to mean buying a completely new fleet. Especially for municipalities or craft businesses with expensive special-purpose vehicles based on the Sprinter, conversion is an economically superior alternative. The conversion from HEERO not only conserves resources in terms of the circular economy, but also your budget. The funding guideline supported the conversion with the same rate of up to 80% of the additional costs as a new purchase. This allows you to extend the service life of your proven and already depreciated vehicles while significantly reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). You protect your original investment in the special body and benefit from lower energy and maintenance costs. The combination of value retention and the previously high 80 percent funding rate made conversion the pragmatic and solution-oriented choice. HEERO offers a comprehensive one-stop solution for this.
Your advantage with HEERO: Partnership for the future
HEERO is your partner for the successful electrification of your commercial vehicle fleet. We offer not only highly innovative new electric vehicles and the patented conversion based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, but also accompany you through the entire process. From the analysis of your needs to detailed subsidy advice and the implementation of the appropriate charging infrastructure. Our solutions are tailored to the needs of logistics companies, municipalities, and trade businesses, convincing through performance and reliability. We support you in creating your project outline and clarify for you what the charging infrastructure e-bus funding 2025 recently comprised. Use our expertise to fully exploit the emission-related and economic advantages of electromobility. HEERO stands for a pragmatic and economic implementation of the transport transition. Request your personal consultation now or book an everyday test free of charge and experience the performance of our vehicles for yourself.
More useful links
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) provides comprehensive information on the funding guidelines for alternative drives in passenger transport and the transport transition in Germany.
The Project Management Jülich (PtJ) coordinates the implementation of funding programs on behalf of the BMDV and supports applicants in project processing.
NOW GmbH is the National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology and is also involved in coordinating the funding programs for alternative drives.
The European Commission provides information on the EU's NextGenerationEU facility, which co-finances funds for the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF).
