ENIN: Austria releases nearly €30 mn in commercial EV funding

The Austrian Ministry for Climate Action has opened the second round of tenders through the ‘Emission-free Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure’ program (ENIN). The funding pot holds 28 million euros and is open until 11 October 2023.

As before, ENIN supports companies in procuring non-fossil fuel commercial vehicles and infrastructure. The wording indicates that companies may procure battery-electric or fuel-cell electric commercial vehicles in classes N1, N2 and N3. Vehicles depending on overhead lines via pantographs can also receive funding. In addition, special vehicles in class N1 – N3 and, for the first time, drive conversions are also subsidised.

In other words, the second ENIN round addresses emission-free trucks for freight transport. There are other funding programmes for electric buses (M2 and M3).

As before, the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) will handle the applications.

ENIN reportedly aims to “significantly accelerate” the transition to zero-emission commercial vehicles in Austria. 365 million euros are available for this purpose throughout 2025, of which less than half of the total budget will be allocated within the first two rounds.

The first round of tenders resulted in €122 mn for fleet conversion and charging infrastructure, putting 1,685 zero-emission commercial vehicles on the road, 1,245 N1 vehicles and 440 class N2 and N3 (trucks up to and over 12 tons). FFG selected 98 projects from all federal states of Austria.

The second round opened on 9 August, and the first projects have already been granted funding. Among these is a consortium comprising 13 waste management companies. The VÖA association received €8.2 mn in funding to procure battery-electric garbage trucks. FFG will cover 80 % (for vehicles) and 40 % (for infrastructure) of the additional costs incurred compared to conventional technology. VÖA considers battery-electric technology particularly suitable for waste collection vehicles with an average daily mileage of around 85 kilometres. Investments are also made in charging stations, supply lines and transformers.

When announcing the next round of ENIN funding, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler said they were “overwhelmed by the large number of high-quality projects” from the logistics and communal sectors. “I am glad that the available budget for this tender could be increased and that we will see the first vehicles on Austria’s roads in the next few months”.

ots.at (waste collection; all in German)