Electric Commercial Vehicle Test: Toward a future-proof fleet, subsidies of up to 80% until 2024
Electric Commercial Vehicle Test: Toward a future-proof fleet, subsidies of up to 80% until 2024
Up to 425 km of range after an upgrade, with up to 80% of the additional costs subsidized – this was made possible by the BMDV funding program until 2024. Learn how to turn bureaucracy, diesel prices, and climate regulations into a strategic advantage for your fleet.
The topic briefly and concisely
The KsNI funding subsidized the conversion or new purchase of electric commercial vehicles with up to 80% of the additional investment expenses; it ran until 2024, and no new funding calls are planned.
Converting an existing diesel vehicle saves resources, preserves the value of special bodies, and was subsidized by up to 80% until 2024.
Modern e-commercial vehicles offer practical ranges of up to 500 km and can be recharged during short operational breaks with DC fast charging at up to 165 kW.
Rising operating costs, looming diesel driving bans, and the requirements of the Clean Vehicles Directive present fleet operators with enormous challenges. However, a professional commercial vehicle electric test shows: the technological maturity has long been reached. With ranges of up to 500 km and funding of up to 80% of the additional costs for vehicles and conversions, which the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) granted until 2024, the transition makes sense not only in terms of emissions but, above all, economically. This article serves as a pragmatic guide to contextualize the current state of funding – the KsNI was discontinued in August 2024 – and to set the course for a profitable, sustainable future.
Quick Facts: The Current Situation for Electric Commercial Vehicles
The facts are clear: The electrification of your commercial vehicle fleet has been supported for years by massive government incentives, the status of which can now be clearly stated. The three most important points for your decision are:
80% subsidy rate: Until 2024, the BMDV subsidized the additional investment costs for the purchase or conversion of vehicles with up to 80% via the KsNI directive.
Program discontinued: The KsNI directive was discontinued in August 2024; no new calls for funding are planned.
Charging infrastructure included: The installation of the necessary charging infrastructure at your depot was also part of this funding directive.
Up to 500 km range: Modern electric vans such as the HEERO eTransporter achieve practical ranges of up to 500 km and are therefore fully operational.
Even without an active call for funding, the task remains to significantly reduce operating costs while simultaneously complying with legal requirements.
Your 4-point action plan for pragmatic electrification
In view of the expired KsNI funding, a structured approach is crucial. An internal commercial vehicle electric test helps to determine the actual need. Navigate safely through the process with this checklist:
Conduct a needs analysis: Analyze the daily mileage and requirement profiles of your fleet. Vehicles like the HEERO e-platform truck with a range of up to 400 km already cover more than 90% of all typical application scenarios.
Funding check: Clarify the exact funding conditions and prepare the application documents. The BMDV's KsNI guideline ran until 2024 and was the central basis for this.
Define the vehicle solution: Decide between a new purchase and conversion. Particularly in the case of expensive special bodies, an efficient conversion protects the budget and preserves the value of your vehicles.
Plan the charging infrastructure: Determine the energy demand and plan the installation of DC fast-charging stations (up to 165 kW charging capacity for HEERO buses) in order to minimize downtime.
This pragmatic approach ensures that you can reliably classify the funding situation and calculate the cost-effectiveness thoroughly.
Understanding Funding Pots: BMDV and Clean Vehicles Directive
The funding landscape of recent years was based on two main pillars. The national "Directive on the promotion of light and heavy commercial vehicles with alternative, climate-friendly drive systems" (KsNI) of the BMDV was the direct financial lever. It covered up to 80% of the additional costs compared to a diesel vehicle until 2024 and applied to both new vehicles and retrofitting. This retrofitting is a core competence of HEERO and preserves existing vehicle values. In parallel, the European Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) obliges public contracting authorities to meet fixed quotas for emission-free vehicles in tenders. For municipalities and their service providers, this creates a pressure to act, which was economically cushioned by the KsNI funding until 2024. The combination of both instruments made the transition particularly attractive for B2B and B2G fleet operators for years. A test of electric buses shows the practical suitability. The KsNI directive has been discontinued since August 2024; new funding calls are not planned.
Cost Comparison: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in Focus
The higher acquisition costs of an electric commercial vehicle are often perceived as a hurdle. However, the decisive factor is the total cost of ownership calculation, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). This TCO analysis takes into account all costs incurred over the entire service life of a vehicle. Studies show that electric trucks will already achieve TCO advantages compared to diesel from 2025. A HEERO DTE Sprinter with a range of up to 425 km benefits from several factors:
Lower energy costs: Electricity is significantly cheaper per kilometer than diesel, often by more than 50%.
Reduced maintenance effort: The elimination of oil changes, exhaust systems, and clutches reduces maintenance costs by up to 60%.
Tax advantages and toll exemption: Electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax and benefit from toll reductions.
The 80% funding of the KsNI directive significantly reduced the biggest disadvantage – the acquisition costs – until 2024. A detailed TCO comparison for your fleet shows the concrete savings potential. This makes cost-effectiveness the driving force behind electrification.
Charging infrastructure: The backbone of your e-fleet
A powerful charging infrastructure is the key to smooth operation. For commercial use, overnight depot charging is the most efficient method. All HEERO vehicles, from e-transporters to buses, are designed for AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) fast charging. The standard DC charging power is up to 135 kW, which means that a battery with a net capacity of 96 kWh can be charged to 80% in about 35 minutes. The HEERO mid-low-floor bus charges at up to 165 kW. This charging performance makes it possible to effectively use breaks during operation for recharging. The planning of the charging infrastructure should take into account the connected load of the company building. With the 40% funding from the BMDV, this investment was also plannable and economically viable until 2024. In this way, the energy supply is optimally integrated into operational processes.
Sustainability through circular economy: renovation instead of new purchase
The conversion of existing diesel vehicles to electric drive is a prime example of a functioning circular economy. Instead of scrapping a fully functional vehicle with an expensive specialized body, its lifecycle is extended by many years. This approach not only saves a significant portion of the CO₂ emissions that would be generated during the production of a new vehicle, but also conserves valuable resources. A converted Sprinter retains its proven chassis and interior, which minimizes retraining for drivers. The battery with 96 kWh net capacity is designed for a long service life of over 3,000 charging cycles. After its use in the vehicle, it can begin a second life as a stationary energy storage system. This approach, which HEERO pursues with the conversion, combines economic prudence with genuine emission reduction and is therefore much more than just a change of drive system. Arrange a non-binding test drive and see for yourself.
More useful links
The Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität (BALM) offers detailed information on the Climate Protection and Mobility (KsNI) funding program.
The Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) provides statistics on vehicle registrations.
Statista provides statistics on the stock of trucks with alternative drivetrains in Germany.
The Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV) provides information on commercial vehicles with alternative drivetrains and climate protection in transport.
The Nationale Leitstelle Ladeinfrastruktur offers information specifically on the topic of commercial vehicles.
The Umweltbundesamt publishes an analysis on the environmental balance of motor vehicles.
The KfW provides funding programs for companies in the field of electromobility.
The Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) offers a dossier on the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric trucks.
The Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) provides information on the drivetrain strategy for commercial vehicles.
