Berlin, 9 March 2021 – There are currently 112 applications that have been approved under a funding call which specifically supports battery-electric commercial vehicles for skilled craft companies and SMEs.
The conversion to clean fleets will be funded with a total volume of almost 30 million euros. Seven funding applications by companies involved in leasing or renting vehicles were also approved. The funding covers the added investment costs incurred when compared to a similar model of vehicle with a combustion engine.
Oliver Braune, Team Leader Battery, Head of Programme Electric mobility at NOW GmbH: “The funding of lessors is an effective contribution to the electrification of vehicle fleets, and this support is then directly experienced by the user. In all, over 18,500 e-vehicles have been approved so far through the electric mobility funding guideline, of which 50 per cent – over 9,000 vehicles, are for leasing and rental companies. The commercial vehicle area has seen a strong increase, with almost 4,500 vehicles classified as N1-N3 vehicles.”
Mercedes-Benz Bank is an example of a lessor that was funded under the funding call for battery-electric commercial vehicles in skilled craft companies and SMEs. It supports skilled craft companies and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in electrifying their vehicle fleets. The leasing range includes the fully-electric eVito panel van and eSprinter van, as well as the fully-electric light truck, the FUSO eCanter. The offer was funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in the amount of 2.9 million euros in all. The funding guideline is coordinated by the NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (Projektträger Jülich (PtJ)).