Administrative services A-Z

Forms: none

Online procedure possible: yes

Written form required: no

Personal appearance required: no

If you wish to receive the subsidy, you must submit an application to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA).

The subsidy is available for the purchase of the following items for bicycle-based freight transport in industry, commerce, trade, services and the municipal sector:

• E-cargo bicycles (cargo pedelecs) and
• Cargo trailers with electric drive assistance (e-cargo bike trailers)

You do not have to repay the grant.

E-cargo bikes and e-cargo bike trailers are not eligible for funding

• for private use (e.g. shopping, commuting to work) or
• for passenger transportation (e.g. rickshaws).

Eligible applicants are

• private companies
• Companies with municipal participation
• Municipalities (cities, municipalities, districts)

The grant amounts to 25 percent of the expenditure for the purchase, up to a maximum of 2,500 euros per e-cargo bike or trailer.

You will not receive the grant if you order the e-cargo bike or e-cargo bike trailer before you have received notification of approval. The approval period is 12 months and begins as soon as you receive the approval notice from BAFA.

You are obliged to inform the public about the funding, in particular on the funded bikes and - if possible - on your website. In addition, you must publicly document your project and the results achieved. This applies in particular to information on the abolition or decommissioning of vehicles with combustion engines and on the purposes and mileages of the funded bikes.

The subsidized objects must be located on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany. You must operate them for at least 3 years in accordance with the funding guidelines. You may not take the bike and trailer out of service within this period, otherwise you will have to repay the grant.

In order to be able to sell the subsidized items, BAFA must give its approval. This is only possible

• if the new owner fully assumes the rights and obligations resulting from the subsidy and
• the transfer or sale does not result in any disadvantages for the federal government or violations of state aid or grant law.

All e-cargo bikes and cargo trailers with electric drive assistance that meet the following requirements are eligible for funding. They must

• be standard and brand new,
• each have a payload of at least 120 kg and
• offer transport options that are inseparably connected to the bicycle and can carry more volume than a conventional bicycle.

As the applicant, you must become the owner of the purchased e-cargo bike or trailer.

You must submit the following documents together with the BAFA electronic application form:

• a non-binding offer from which
  • the planned purchase (manufacturer and type of e-cargo bike or e-cargo trailer) and
  • the estimated expenditure
• if applicable, proof of the economic sector in which your company operates.

After purchasing the e-cargo bike or e-cargo bike trailer, you must provide proof of use. BAFA provides an electronic form for this purpose. As part of the proof of use, you must provide at least the following documents and evidence:

• Questionnaire (BAFA form) on the application and use of the procured e-cargo bikes or e-cargo bike trailers
• photographic evidence that the prescribed logo combination has been used in accordance with the regulations,
• fully completed proof of use form and invoice.

No fees are charged for the application and processing. The entire application procedure is free of charge for you.

You can only apply for the grant online using an electronic form on the BAFA website.

• Visit the BAFA website and call up the electronic form for the "Application for funding for e-cargo bikes for bicycle-based freight transport".
• Complete the form, attach the required documents and submit it online.
• After reviewing the application and the required documents and provided that all eligibility requirements are met, BAFA will issue an approval notice.
• As soon as you receive the approval notice, you can conclude the purchase contract for an e-cargo bike or an e-cargo bike trailer.
• You must then submit proof of use using another electronic form provided by BAFA.
• The grant will be transferred to you after verification of proper use.

• The funding can be applied for within the period of validity of the funding guideline, i.e. until 29.02.2024. (as of July 2021)
• The (approval) period within which the e-cargo bike or e-cargo trailer must be purchased is 12 months. It begins from receipt of the approval notice from BAFA.

• Directive on the promotion of e-cargo bikes for bicycle-based freight transport in industry and municipalities as part of the National Climate Initiative (e-cargo bike directive) of 29.01.2021
• Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG)
• In particular Sections 48 and 49 of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG)

• Information on funding for e-cargo bikes and e-cargo bike trailers on the BAFA website
• Fact sheet on the e-cargo bike directive [as of April 2021] (PDF, 720KB, file is not barrier-free)
• Instructions for using the NKI promotional logo on e-cargo bikes (PDF, 196KB, file is barrier-free/barrier-free)
• Information on funding for e-cargo bikes and e-cargo bike trailers on the BAFA website
• Fact sheet on the e-cargo bike directive [as of April 2021] (PDF, 720KB, file is not barrier-free)
• Instructions for using the NKI promotional logo on e-cargo bikes (PDF, 196KB, file is barrier-free/barrier-free)

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety