Convert sanitation service vehicles: Investment protection modeled after TOI TOI & DIXI
Your sanitary service vehicle has an expensive custom conversion, but the diesel drive is becoming a burden? A conversion to electric drive protects your investment and ensures the future viability of your fleet. Discover how HEERO, following the example of industry leaders like TOI TOI & DIXI, offers a solution that is superior in terms of both economics and emissions.
The topic briefly and concisely
Converting a sanitary service vehicle to electric drive protects the expensive investment in the specialized expansion and is up to 40% cheaper than buying a new one.
Following the example of TOI TOI & DIXI, service fleets can reduce their operating costs (TCO) by up to 60% and improve service quality through quiet operation with the D2E conversion.
With a range of up to 425 km and the ability to power tools directly from the vehicle battery, converted Sprinters are fully operational and future-proof for all environmental zones.
For operators of special fleets, such as in sanitary services, diesel driving bans and rising operating costs represent a double challenge. The high investments in customized bodies, which often exceed the value of the base vehicle, seem tied to the fate of the diesel engine. Purchasing a new electric special vehicle is associated with enormous costs and long delivery times. HEERO breaks this cycle with its patented conversion. We convert your proven Mercedes-Benz Sprinters into powerful electric vehicles within just 10 days, preserving the valuable body and significantly reducing your Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). In this way, a necessity becomes a strategic advantage.
The investment trap: Why a new purchase is uneconomical for special fleets
Service fleet operators face a dilemma: the drive of their vehicles is outdated, but the body is highly specialized and valuable. A special body for a sanitary service vehicle, including pumps, tanks, and shelving systems, can reach costs of over 50,000 euros. If a new e-transporter were purchased, this sum would have to be completely reinvested and the old body written off. At the same time, low-emission zones in cities like Munich, Stuttgart, and Darmstadt are forcing action, as diesel vehicles up to Euro 5 are increasingly being locked out. This scenario destroys tied-up capital and drives up total cost of ownership. The continued use of the proven Mercedes Sprinter Fahrgestells is therefore the most economically sensible decision. This challenge requires a solution that protects the value of the existing fleet while setting the course for a locally emission-free future.
Value creation through reuse: The D2E retrofitting as a strategic advantage
The solution lies in the consistent application of the circular economy to the fleet. Instead of replacing a fully functional vehicle including its body, the HEERO conversion focuses on replacing the drive unit. Within just ten days, we replace the diesel engine with our powerful electric drive. The chassis, the cab, and above all, the expensive special body remain untouched and can continue to be used seamlessly. This approach not only conserves valuable resources but also reduces investment costs by up to 40% compared to buying new. The lifespan of a Sprinter chassis often exceeds 350,000 kilometers, which easily enables a second phase of use as an electric vehicle. Here are the key advantages of this approach:
Investment protection: Your expensive and customized special body remains completely preserved.
Cost reduction: Significantly lower investment compared to purchasing a new special-purpose electric vehicle.
Sustainability: Continued use instead of scrapping avoids CO2 emissions and conserves resources.
Fast availability: The conversion is completed in just 10 days, whereas delivery times for new vehicles often take months.
Proven basis: Drivers and mechanics continue to work with the familiar and reliable Sprinter model.
The HEERO conversion solutions are therefore more than just a technical exchange; they are a strategic decision for economic and emissions-related sustainability. But how does this concept prove itself in the demanding practical application of service fleets?
Practical example TOI TOI & DIXI: How service fleets electrify their efficiency
A leading example of successful implementation is the partnership between HEERO and the TOI TOI & DIXI Group. The company operates a fleet of over 2,000 service vehicles, covering more than 77 million kilometers annually. The vehicles are equipped with complex pumping and cleaning technology – an investment that would be lost with every vehicle change. By converting the existing Mercedes Sprinter to the HEERO electric drive, TOI TOI & DIXI is taking a new, sustainable path. The first converted vehicle represents a world first in the field of mobile sanitary services. The predictable routes of the service fleet lie ideally within the range of the converted e-transporter. A decisive advantage is that the energy required to operate the pump units is drawn directly from the vehicle battery, making the use of noisy and high-emission auxiliary generators superfluous. This model project with TOI TOI shows how the conversion not only saves costs but also improves service quality through noise reduction. The economic and technical performance data underpin this strategic decision.
More than just green: The hard economic facts of electrification
The decision to convert is based on a clear TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis. Although the initial investment is required for the conversion, it amortizes through significantly lower operating costs. Studies show that, depending on the application profile, electric commercial vehicles are already cheaper to operate today than comparable diesel models. Operating costs can decrease by up to 60%. The following factors are decisive for the TCO calculation:
Energy costs: Electricity costs per 100 km are significantly lower than the costs for diesel.
Maintenance and repair: Electric drivetrains have fewer wear parts (no exhaust, oil changes, clutch), which reduces maintenance costs by over 50%.
Government subsidies: Programs such as KsNI supported the conversion until 2024 with up to 80% of the additional costs.
Taxes and tolls: Electric vehicles were exempt from truck tolls until the end of 2025 and enjoy tax advantages.
CO2 levies: Elimination of the rising costs for CO2 certificates.
With a real-world range of up to 425 km, a Sprinter converted by HEERO easily covers the vast majority of daily operations of service vehicles for technicians. This combination of range and cost-effectiveness makes conversion the logical choice, especially for vehicles that require electricity while on the move.
Autonomous energy supply: power for tools and equipment directly from the vehicle battery.
A decisive advantage of the HEERO conversion for trade and service businesses is the integrated power supply. The powerful vehicle battery serves not only for propulsion, but also as a mobile energy source for tools, machinery, and specialized equipment. For a sanitary service vehicle, this means that high-pressure cleaners and pumps can be operated directly and with zero local emissions. The need for a separate, noisy, and maintenance-intensive diesel generator is completely eliminated. This not only reduces noise pollution during operations in residential areas, but also further lowers complexity and operating costs. A mobile workshop with electricity for tools thus becomes a reality. This technological superiority ensures not only operational advantages, but also compliance with future environmental regulations, which is a key criterion especially for public sector clients.
Future-proof in the environmental zone: Confidently meet legal requirements
For municipalities, cities, and their service providers, compliance with emission limit values is not an option, but a duty. With the tightening of low-emission zones and the threat of complete diesel driving bans, the pressure to act will continue to increase by 2025. Retrofitting existing municipal commercial vehicle fleets is the fastest and most budget-friendly way to secure operational readiness. Whether for green space maintenance, waste disposal, or technical service – a retrofitted Sprinter guarantees unrestricted access to all urban areas. Instead of investing millions in new fleets, municipalities can future-proof their existing vehicles with a fraction of the budget. This not only protects the budget but also serves as a model in terms of sustainable procurement. Retrofitting makes municipal commercial vehicles future-proof and proves that emission balances and economics can go hand in hand. The path to conversion is clearly defined and is accompanied by HEERO in partnership.
More useful links
Wikipedia provides a general overview of electromobility.
The Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität (BaLM) provides information on the Climate Protection and Mobility (KSNI) funding program.
The Umweltbundesamt publishes an analysis on the environmental balance of motor vehicles.
The Statistische Bundesamt (Destatis) provides tables on the vehicle stock in Germany.
The Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) offers information on the drive strategy for commercial vehicles.
The Bundesumweltministerium provides information on the topic of end-of-life vehicles in the context of the circular economy.
The Öko-Institut has published a study on the electrification of heavy commercial vehicles and the development of charging infrastructure.
The Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV) provides information on the Task Force for Retrofitting Alternative Drives.
On gesetze-im-internet.de you will find the Waste Water Ordinance (AbwV), a relevant German law.
