Wissing: “By 2030, every other city bus will be electric.“

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is entering the second funding phase for the switch to buses with alternative drives and the infrastructure required to run them. Following the first funding call last year, project outlines for the purchase of clean buses may be submitted from today.

Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing: “In order to achieve our climate protection targets we need CO2-neutral technologies in transport. That’s why we are supporting local transport companies in converting to alternative drives and providing them with relevant infrastructure. We have allocated a total of 1.25 billion euros for this purpose until 2024. Our goal: every second city bus is to be electrically powered by 2030. We want to progress closer to this with our second funding call and this time, we’re explicitly focused on medium-sized businesses.”

Funding is available for the following:

  • The procurement of buses with alternative drives: including battery buses (including battery trolley buses), fuel cell buses (incl. buses with fuel cells as range extenders) and biomethane buses
  • Retrofitting, as long as this is less expensive or no model is available on the market
  • The charging, refuelling and maintenance infrastructure required for operation

Project outlines can be submitted from 23 May 2022 until the 15 July 2022 through the easy-Online application platform. Criteria for inclusion in the application process include the share of the overall fleet that is to be converted to alternative drives and the projected CO2 savings. The submitted outlines will be considered separately for the different drive systems, and an upper funding limit will be applied per project.

Through the new guideline for funding alternative drives for buses in local public transport, the BMDV has been supporting the market activation and the market ramp-up of buses with climate-friendly, alternative drives since September 2021. Funds are awarded as part of a competitive process. The first funding call for the procurement of battery, fuel cell and biomethane buses took place last year. The numbers show that the transport companies are focusing on climate protection. With a market potential of over 5,000 buses, demand was huge in the first funding call. The first subsidy notes for 1,700 clean buses were presented by Dr. Volker Wissing in April 2022. Additional notes will follow in the middle of next year.

Do you have a query about the latest funding call?

In an online seminar on 25 May 2022 from 13:00 to 15:00, we will go into the detail of the new funding call together with Project Management Jülich (PtJ). There will also be an opportunity for asking questions. Register now.

Detailed information can be found at: www.now-gmbh.de/foerderung/foerderfinder/skizzeneinreichung-fuer-busse-mit-alternativen-antrieben-05-2022