BEM: Retrofit overlooked in the promotion of commercial vehicles

The Federal Association for eMobility BEM e.V. has criticized the absence of retrofit options in the latest funding guidelines for commercial vehicles issued by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI) in a statement. Since the beginning of 2021, the state has been incentivizing the purchase of brand new trucks (emission standard Euro VI) or those powered by electricity or hydrogen, provided that an old truck (emission standards Euro 0 to Euro V/EEV) is scrapped at the same time, with up to 15,000 euros. However, the key directive for promoting the renewal of commercial vehicle fleets does not contain a single paragraph on the eligibility for funding of measures that maintain and renew the existing vehicle substance or retrofit from combustion to electric drive. The term retrofit does not appear even once, the association complains. The directive is the opposite of sustainability and contradicts the climate protection plan, according to BEM board member Markus Emmert, after addressing the directive in the responsible working group of the association.

“The exchange of old for new represents a waste of resources, which clearly shows once again that the leading authority on mobility in Germany has not understood electromobility," criticizes the association representative.

Dozens of companies, including in Bavaria, are dedicated to converting buses and trucks so that existing equipment can have a second life and continue to be used, and also to prevent the export of combustion vehicles and CO2 emissions. Besides, retrofit is far cheaper than new purchase – especially for municipalities, transport, and small businesses, Emmert further argues.

Retrofit (English for retrofit, convert) refers to the modernization or expansion of existing systems and equipment. In Germany, the term “Aktionierung” is also partly familiar in the automotive industry. Leading companies in this field include aentron, AL-KO, BPW Bergisch Achsen, e-trofit, IAV Automotive Engineering, I SEE Electric Trucks, Paul Nutzfahrzeuge, Trailer Dynamics, Voltabox, ZF Friedrichshafen, and Ziehl-Abegg, who have been exchanging ideas on the topic within the industry association for years and have partly promoted joint solutions, as BEM further outlines. The association has now presented the objections to the lack of funding in a statement to the BMVI.