Around 20% of all CO2 emissions in Germany are attributable to transportation. The gradual switch to climate-neutral drive systems, whether for cars, trucks or buses, is making a substantial contribution to a climate-neutral city worth living in. In addition, battery electric vehicles will offer far-reaching opportunities to increase flexibility and support the electricity grid infrastructure in the future.
Auf einen Blick
- Target in Europe starting in 2035: Passenger cars and city buses must be powered by zero-emission vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks must reduce their CO2 emissions by 65%.
- The German government’s goal by 2030: 15 million electric vehicles in Germany.
- By 2030, the City of Hamburg aims to install 10,000 publicly accessible charging stations on Hamburg’s streets.
The city of Hamburg has set a goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045. This applies equally to road traffic. But how can climate neutrality be achieved on the roads? Which technologies have specific advantages or disadvantages, depending on the specific use cases?
Electromobility (electric and hydrogen) as an emission-free option
Battery-electric powertrains currently represent the most widely adopted solution for decarbonizing road traffic in practice. This is because battery-electric vehicles for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles still have an early-stage but certainly secure market outlook in terms of existing vehicle stock, technical reliability, and the range of available vehicle models. Furthermore, they are the comparatively most cost-effective zero-emission propulsion type in terms of operating costs (electricity vs. hydrogen vs. synthetic fuels).
The market outlook for buses and heavy-duty vehicles, however, remains undecided: When converting city buses and heavy-duty trucks, particularly those with high daily mileage, the use of hydrogen may be practical and economical compared to battery-electric solutions. This, however, depends heavily on local conditions and the application scenario. According to current estimates, the use of hydrogen-based fuels (e-fuels) in road transport is likely to remain the exception due to their current lack of availability and the projected high costs.
Hamburg’s Multiple Measures for the Transition to Climate-Friendly Vehicles
On the path to achieving climate neutrality by 2045, the following measures, among others, have been launched in Hamburg.
- Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles
To facilitate the transition to climate-neutral powertrains, the City of Hamburg is accelerating the development of charging infrastructure. By 2030, 10,000 publicly accessible charging points for passenger cars and light trucks will be installed (significant expansion of the e-charging infrastructure in the coming years). In addition, exclusive charging stations are available for both car-sharing vehicles and the taxi industry. Starting in early 2025, the use of climate-friendly vehicles will be mandatory to obtain a new taxi license. - Commercial Vehicles
The electrification of the vehicle fleet offers companies both economic and environmental benefits. Despite sometimes higher purchase costs, electric vehicles are attractive due to lower operating expenses, tax advantages, and the ability to use renewable energy sources. With clear guidelines, fleet analyses, and a suitable charging infrastructure, the transition can be managed efficiently and with an eye toward the future. In Hamburg, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts act as advisors to their member companies. - Public buses A comprehensive reduction
in emissions is also being pursued for the backbone of urban transportation: public transit. Since 2020, the two municipal transit companies, Hamburger Hochbahn (HOCHBAHN) and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (vhh mobility), have been procuring exclusively electric buses. More than 500 of these vehicles are now on Hamburg’s roads. A complete conversion of the fleets is targeted for 2032. - Heavy-duty vehicles
According to estimates by truck manufacturers, by 2030, 65% of new registrations in heavy-duty transport will already be climate-neutral, with the majority being electric. The systematic planning and implementation of charging parks for e-trucks and the expansion of hydrogen refueling stations to the specific 350 bar pressure level for hydrogen refueling of trucks clearly demonstrate that locations such as Hamburg are thoroughly preparing for the transition to new propulsion systems in heavy-duty transport.
Design, support, network
hysolutions supports the measures mentioned here both during the planning phase and as part of their subsequent implementation. The focus here is on designing measures and networking with relevant partners from politics, business, and science who are necessary for successful implementation.
Förderung
The federal government’s new electric vehicle subsidy program specifically supports low- and middle-income households in making the switch to climate-friendly mobility. Funding is available for the purchase of newly registered electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) that were first registered on or after January 1, 2026. Depending on income and family situation, individuals can receive grants of several thousand euros—up to 6,000 euros is possible for fully electric cars (detailed eligibility requirements and grant amounts can be found here). The subsidy is provided as a direct grant after the vehicle purchase: Once the vehicle is registered, buyers can submit their application to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA).
Charging in Multi-Unit Buildings
The “Charging in Multi-Unit Buildings” subsidy program supports the expansion of charging infrastructure directly at the place of residence. Funding is provided for the planning, installation, and connection of charging points, as well as the necessary pre-cabling in existing residential buildings with at least three residential units. Condominium associations, private owners, companies with residential properties, and small and medium-sized enterprises can particularly benefit. The goal is to make charging at home easier and widely available. Funding is provided as a grant of up to 2,000 euros per parking space, including the charging point. An application can be submitted digitally via the funding portal.
"Green Potential Screening" Funding Initiative | IFB Hamburg
Through the “Green Potential Screening” call for proposals, the Hamburg Investment Bank (IFB) is funding feasibility studies to identify and define innovation potential in the context of climate and environmental protection. Eligible applicants include companies and consortia of companies with a place of business in Hamburg, as well as universities and research institutions with a place of business in Hamburg, provided they are cooperation partners of an applicant company.
The European Union is supporting the development of publicly accessible charging and refueling infrastructure at urban hubs. The goal of this funding initiative is to improve transport connectivity within Europe. Public and private companies are eligible to apply.
Special Depreciation for Electric Vehicles
As part of the German government’s Innovation Booster program, companies are allowed to claim 75% of the acquisition costs as a tax deduction in the first year. The regulation applies to newly purchased electric vehicles that are first added to business assets between June 30, 2025, and January 1, 2028, or to used electric vehicles, provided they are first added to business assets. In subsequent years, a declining balance depreciation schedule applies (10%, 5%, 5%, 3%, 2%). Additionally, the price limit for the 0.25% company car rule has been raised from 70,000 to 100,000 euros.
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Support for Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks
The federal government is supporting the development of charging infrastructure for battery-electric trucks in freight transport. The goal is to accelerate the transition to climate-friendly powertrains in the transportation sector. Funding is available for companies that install charging points at their own locations (e.g., depots), as well as for operators of publicly accessible charging infrastructure. In addition to the charging points themselves, grid connections, battery storage systems, and energy management systems are also eligible for subsidies. A total of up to 1 billion euros in funding will be available over several years, distributed across multiple funding calls. In the competitive selection process, the key prioritization criterion will be the amount of funding per kilowatt of charging capacity installed. Applications can be submitted starting May 26, 2026. Further information on the funding guidelines and calls for proposals can be found here.
Weitere Informationen
- BWAI - Department of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Innovation - Electric Mobility in the City of Hamburg
- NOW GmbH - National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology
- Study on the fire safety of electric vehicles by NOW GmbH
- Hamburg Chamber of Commerce: Reducing Energy Costs in Businesses
- Corporate Mobility of the Hamburg Environmental Partnership
- Eco-Fleet | Sustainable Mobility - hamburg.de
- ZDH | SME Initiative for Energy Transition and Climate Protection: CO2 Calculator e-tool
- KLIMAready Knowledge Hub: Mobility
