Buy electric commercial vehicle: What to know about the 80% subsidy until 2024
Over 3,500 electric buses have already benefited from government subsidies – when will you electrify your fleet? The KsNI funding period for commercial vehicles ran until 2024 and covered up to 80% of the additional costs; no new funding calls are planned. Rising diesel prices and stricter EU regulations remain unaffected by this.
The topic briefly and concisely
The 80% KsNI subsidy for e-commercial vehicles and their conversion ran until 2024; new funding calls are not planned.
A Diesel-to-Electric conversion (DTE) can be more economical than purchasing new by retaining expensive specialist bodies.
Modern eTransporters like the Heero eTransporter achieve practical ranges of up to 500 km and charge to 80% in around 30 minutes.
If you buy an electric commercial vehicle today, you are making a strategic investment in your future viability. In light of volatile fuel prices and the implementation of the Clean Vehicles Directive, fleet operators are facing enormous pressure to act. This tension between bureaucracy, costs, and climate mandates requires pragmatic solutions. This guide provides you with a clear 4-step plan and contextualizes government subsidies: The KsNI directive subsidized up to 80% of the additional costs for vehicles and included charging infrastructure until 2024; it has been discontinued since August 2024. We explain the benefits of converting from diesel to electric and show you how to sustainably reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of your fleet.
Costs and regulations now require your action
Pressure on fleet operators is growing significantly due to two factors. First, the Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) forces public contracting authorities to meet fixed quotas for zero-emission vehicles by the end of 2025. Second, rising operating costs and CO₂ taxes burden budgets more heavily every year. The Federal Climate Protection Act demands a 48 percent reduction in transport emissions by 2030. Many companies underestimate that these requirements are already influencing the awarding of public contracts today. Electrification is therefore no longer an option, but an economic necessity to secure your competitiveness.
Your 4-Step Plan for Successful Fleet Electrification
A structured approach is the key to implementing the transition in an economically and financially sound manner. With this checklist, you can navigate safely through the process:
Conduct a needs analysis: Analyze your daily mileage and vehicle requirements. Our experts will support you in defining the exact requirement profile for a range of up to 500 km.
Check and assess funding opportunities: The KsNI funding ran until 2024 and has been discontinued. It subsidized vehicles with up to 80% and the charging infrastructure funding with 40% of the expenses; we assess your situation on a case-by-case basis.
Define the solution path (conversion vs. new purchase): Check whether a conversion is more economical for your existing vehicles. Especially with expensive special bodies, this can save up to 60% of investment costs.
Plan implementation and commissioning: Coordinate the vehicle conversion or delivery with the setup of the charging infrastructure. For example, a HEERO conversion only takes ten to twelve working days.
These four steps form the basis for a well-founded investment decision.
Funding pools in review: Up to 80 percent of the additional costs
The KsNI funding guideline of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) was a decisive lever for reducing costs. It subsidized the purchase or conversion of an electric commercial vehicle with up to 80% of the additional investment costs compared to a diesel vehicle. In addition, 40% of the costs for setting up operational charging infrastructure were covered. The guideline ran until 2024 and has been discontinued since August 2024. Since processing and approval took several months, early application was crucial. Which programs are currently open is clarified on a case-by-case basis. Analyzing your individual funding opportunities is the next logical step.
TCO Analysis: Why Retrofitting Often Outperforms Buying New
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is the decisive key figure for the profitability of your fleet. It includes acquisition, energy, maintenance, taxes and depreciation. While a new electric commercial vehicle has high acquisition costs, the Diesel-to-Electric conversion (DTE) offers a clear advantage. You retain the proven base vehicle and protect your investment in expensive special bodies. The operating costs of a converted vehicle are up to 50% lower than those of a diesel vehicle. A TCO analysis shows that the conversion costs often amortize within four to six years. This secures the technological performance of your fleet.
Performance without compromise: Focusing on range and charging power
Modern electric commercial vehicles are designed for demanding daily operations and offer field-tested performance values. The HEERO vehicle fleet provides concrete proof of this:
HEERO eTransporter: Up to 500 km range with a 96 kWh net battery.
HEERO DTE-Sprinter: Up to 425 km range after conversion.
HEERO Tourer (Minibus 9 Pax): Up to 400 km range for passenger transport.
HEERO Mittelniederflur-Bus: Up to 300 km range and fast charging with up to 165 kW DC.
All models except the Mittelniederflur-Bus charge with up to 135 kW direct current (DC) as standard. This means that 80% of the range is available again in about 30 minutes. These technological indicators prove full operational capability in daily commercial use and are crucial for the planning of charging infrastructure.
Circular Economy as a Strategy: CO₂ Reduction through Conversion
The conversion of existing vehicles is an active contribution to the circular economy and resource conservation, as required by the Circular Economy Act (KrWG). Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle, its life cycle is extended by at least eight to ten years. This approach avoids the CO₂-intensive emissions associated with the production of a completely new vehicle. A conversion saves up to 25 tons of CO₂ per vehicle compared to buying new. You not only use a locally emission-free drive, but also act according to the principle of "reuse before recycling". This sustainable strategy strengthens your company image and positions you as a responsible partner who also plans the necessary charging infrastructure intelligently.
More useful links
Umweltbundesamt offers comprehensive information on electromobility in freight transport.
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK) provides a dossier on electromobility.
