The federal government is supporting the purchase of brand-new trucks which meet current Euro VI exhaust emissions standards in the amount of 15,000 euros if an old truck with exhaust emissions standards Euro III, IV or V is scrapped. Furthermore there is a subsidy of up to 5,000 euros available for the purchase of intelligent trailer technology.
Trucks cause around a quarter of all CO2 emissions in road transport and that share is expected to continue to increase over the coming years. The 2030 traffic forecast assumes a growth of 38 per cent in freight transport. The exchange of old for new should contribute to reducing CO2 emissions of commercial vehicle fleets. Unlike in the car sector, the conversion of road freight transport to low-emission drives can achieve substantial emission reductions with a relatively low number of vehicles. In addition to the modernisation of fleets with conventional drives, the switch to trucks with alternatives drives and fuels provides great potential to decarbonize road freight transport in the medium term. Vehicles such as battery-operated trucks are already available today.
The application process at the Federal Office for Goods Transport (Bundesamt für Güterverkehr – BAG) will begin in January. Applications must be submitted exclusively to BAG electronically via www.antrag-gbbmvi.bund.de (e-service portal). 15/04/21 is the closing date for applications to BAG.
The scope of the legally binding declarations to be made is outlined in the guideline published on 8/1/21 in the Federal Gazette.