Green light from Brussels: The funding guideline for commercial vehicles with alternative drives submitted by the Federal Transport Ministry can begin following approval by the European Commission. This means that for battery, fuel cell and (overhead) hybrid electric vehicles, the relevant refuelling and charging infrastructure as well as feasibility studies, an attractive funding programme is available.
Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer: “This is a breakthrough for the commercial vehicle sector. With the new funding we are creating a big incentive for transport companies to convert to climate-friendly commercial vehicles. This is because we are not only supporting procurement, but also the necessary refuelling and charging infrastructure as well. We will divert more freight onto the railway. The fact remains however, that roads will continue to shoulder a large share of freight transport. And so it has to become cleaner, quicker. Reflecting this, demand for clean vehicles is high and availability is increasing. My call to the industry is: take advantage of the opportunity!”
As a part of the implementation of the overall concept for climate-friendly commercial vehicles, the funding guideline specifically comprises three elements:
- Funding for the acquisition of new climate-friendly commercial vehicles of EC vehicle classes N1, N2 and N3 as well as alternative drives of retrofitted commercial vehicles of EC vehicle classes N2 and N3 in the amount of 80% of the added investment costs compared to a conventional diesel vehicle,
- Funding of the refuelling and charging infrastructure for the operation of the climate-friendly commercial vehicles in the amount of 80% of the total project-related overall costs eligible for funding,
- Funding for the preparation of feasibility studies on the use of climate-friendly commercial vehicles as well as the construction or expansion of relevant infrastructure in the amount of 50% of project-related costs eligible for funding.
By 2024 the BMVI will make approx. 1.6 billion euros available for funding procurement of climate-friendly commercial vehicles as well as around 5 billion euros for the construction of refuelling and charging infrastructure (cars and trucks). Along with other BMVI measures to fund electric mobility, the new funding guideline will also be financed from these titles.
Further details on the funding are outlined in the directive as well as the first funding call, which will be published shortly.
Further information can be found here: www.klimafreundliche-Nutzfahrzeuge.de