to zero electric vehicles GmbH
to zero electric vehicles GmbH is a German company that retrofits diesel buses into electric vehicles using a proprietary modular LFP-based kit, serving municipal transport operators and coach/tourism fleets across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersErfurt, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What to zero electric vehicles GmbH does
to zero electric vehicles GmbH is a German engineering company, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Erfurt, that converts diesel-powered buses into fully electric vehicles using a proprietary modular retrofit kit. Its core product is the Modular Propulsion System v4.0, built around LFP battery chemistry and paired with in-house vehicle-control software that supports over-the-air updates and remote diagnostics; the kit holds TÜV certification and ECE-R100 type approval, the EU regulatory baseline for electric road-vehicle battery systems. The company reports a 14-day conversion time and prices the retrofit at roughly €225,000 per bus, which it benchmarks against approximately €550,000 for a comparably specified new E-bus, implying a ~59% capex saving for fleet operators. The kit has been applied across urban buses, articulated buses (MAN A23), and long-distance coaches (Setra S 516 HD), positioning the firm to address municipal transit, regional/intercity coach, and tourism operators across the DACH region and broader EU.\n\nThe business model is project-based: revenue is generated per bus converted, with the company providing the engineered kit, conversion, and post-conversion software/OTA support. Go-to-market targets German and European municipal transport authorities (e.g., DSW21 in Dortmund), coach and tourism operators, and selected special-application fleets. The company is led by co-founders Andreas Pfeffer (CEO) and Hans-Georg Herb (CFO) and operates with a lean team of six employees. Public positioning emphasizes cost advantage versus new E-bus procurement, decarbonization of existing diesel fleets in line with EU Clean Vehicle Directive quotas, and circular-economy logic (extending asset life rather than scrapping functional buses).\n\nStrategic intent, as communicated publicly, is to scale to 5,000 retrofitted buses by 2028, broaden the kit to additional chassis (Mercedes Citaro, Solaris, double-deckers), and build adjacent depot-side services including charging infrastructure, photovoltaic integration, and second-life battery storage. No external funding rounds have been publicly disclosed, and revenue is not reported; the company is currently in a commercial-pilot-to-early-fleet phase, with media coverage in ARD, ZDF, MDR, Tagesspiegel, and DIE ZEIT indicating above-average visibility for its stage.
to zero electric vehicles GmbH firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- to zero electric vehicles GmbH
- Legal name
- to zero electric vehicles GmbH
- Website
- https://to-zero.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- to zero electric vehicles GmbH is a German company that retrofits diesel buses into electric vehicles using a proprietary modular LFP-based kit, serving municipal transport operators and coach/tourism fleets across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
to zero electric vehicles GmbH industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Commercial Vehicle Retrofit
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EV Retrofit & Electrification Conversions (Fleet/Commercial) (TLAKAMAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- EV Power Electronics & Drivetrain Electrification Service (Inverters, DC-DC, eAxles) (TLAKAMAI), Battery Pack Repair/Remanufacturing & Module/Cell Replacement (TLAKAMAB), Truck & Commercial Vehicle Electrification Manufacturing (eAxles/Battery Packs/Fuel Cells) (IMACABAK)
Keywords
Where to zero electric vehicles GmbH is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
to zero electric vehicles GmbH business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bus Retrofit / Conversion: One-time conversion of existing diesel buses to electric propulsion. Complete kit including motor, battery, HV wiring, cooling, electronics, software, TÜV certification. Pricing example: €225,000 per conversion vs €550,000 for new E-bus.
- Charging Infrastructure: Planning and installation of depot charging solutions including battery buffer storage, load management systems, and optional PV integration. Example configuration starts at approximately €90,000.
- Service and Maintenance: 5-year maintenance-free operation, remote diagnostics, OTA updates, spare parts logistics within 48 hours, dedicated service contact, winter upgrade packages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Bus Conversion (12m City Bus) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Depot Charging Infrastructure |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Operating Cost Savings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
to zero electric vehicles GmbH product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TO ZERO converts existing diesel buses into fully electric vehicles using its TÜV-certified Modular Propulsion System v4.0, replacing the complete diesel drivetrain with an electric motor (up to 410 kW), modular LFP battery packs (200–400+ kWh), HV wiring, cooling, control electronics, and proprietary vehicle software. The offering extends to depot charging infrastructure (load management, buffer storage, optional PV) and after-sales service including 5-year maintenance packages and a cold-weather Winter Upgrade.
Product overview
TO ZERO operates as a bus retrofit company (not a traditional SaaS/platform) offering a modular electric propulsion kit — the "Modular Propulsion System v4.0" — that converts existing diesel buses to fully electric operation. The core product includes a TÜV-certified retrofit kit with proprietary electric motor (up to 410 kW), LFP battery packs (200–400+ kWh), HV wiring, cooling system, control electronics, and TO ZERO's own vehicle control software (OTA-update capable). Supporting products and services include depot charging infrastructure with intelligent load management, buffer battery storage (Second-Life from retired bus packs), optional PV integration, and a Winter Upgrade package for cold-climate operations. TO ZERO serves four market verticals: Nahverkehr (city/public transport buses), Reiseverkehr (travel/intercity buses), Lokaler Tourismus (sightseeing/charter), and Spezialanwendungen (airport/industrial/special vehicles). An online Amortisationsrechner (ROI calculator) is also offered as a web tool. The company has retrofitted or is developing conversions for: MAN A20/A21, MAN A23 (articulated), Mercedes-Benz Citaro 530 G, Setra S 516 HD, Solaris, and double-decker buses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TO ZERO Retrofit-Kit (Modular Propulsion System v4.0) A TÜV-certified modular electric propulsion kit that replaces the complete diesel drivetrain of an existing bus. Includes an electric motor (up to 410 kW), LFP battery packs (200–400+ kWh, upgradeable), HV wiring, cooling system, control electronics and proprietary vehicle software. Conversion is completed in 14 days by two technicians and yields up to 500–600 km range. Targeted at public transport operators, private bus companies, tourism operators and special-application fleet owners.
- Ladeinfrastruktur / Depot-Charging Turnkey depot charging solution combining intelligent load management, second-life battery buffer storage (up to 2,610 kWh) and optional PV integration. Enables up to 12× more usable charging power from existing grid connections, eliminating the need for grid expansion. An example configuration (100 kW grid, 2,610 kWh buffer, up to 1,250 kW peak output) starts at approximately €90,000.
- 5 Jahre Wartungsfreiheit (Maintenance Package) Multi-year service package covering remote diagnostics, OTA software updates, 8-year LFP battery warranty, spare parts logistics within 48 hours, and a dedicated service contact. Exploits the fact that electric drivetrains have approximately 90% fewer moving parts than diesel engines, eliminating oil changes and exhaust after-treatment.
- Winter-Upgrade Cold-weather optimization package combining a high-efficiency CO2 heat pump, intelligent pre-conditioning and insulated battery housings. Enables operation down to -20 °C with only 15% range loss versus an industry-standard 30–40%.
- Nahverkehr-Umrüstung (Public Transport Conversion) Tailored retrofit solution for city and articulated public-transport buses (ÖPNV) such as MAN A20/A21, MAN A23 and Mercedes-Benz Citaro 530 G. Delivers up to 500 km range, 3-hour charging time, and supports municipal operators in meeting the EU Clean Vehicles Directive quota of 48% zero-emission buses by 2030.
- Reiseverkehr-Umrüstung (Coach Conversion) Electric retrofit package for intercity and long-distance coach buses, exemplified by the Setra S 516 HD — Europe's first retrofitted electric coach. Provides up to 600 km range, 30-minute fast charging, 250 kW power, and is proven in Alpine operations. Targets private coach and tourism operators needing environmental-zone access and lower operating costs.
- Lokaler Tourismus-Umrüstung (Tourism & Charter Conversion) Retrofit solution for sightseeing, shuttle and charter buses. Enables quiet operation in historic city centres and emission-free access to environmental zones. Covers hotel/airport/messe shuttles, sightseeing tours and event charter services.
- Spezialanwendungen-Umrüstung (Special-Application Conversion) Conversion package for airport apron vehicles, factory/works traffic and special low-floor configurations. Includes airside certification, ICAO fire-protection compliance, EMV compatibility with aircraft systems and 24/7 charge management for continuous operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 59% cost savings compared to new E-bus purchase (€225,000 vs €550,000)
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use to zero electric vehicles GmbH
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
to zero electric vehicles GmbH technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
to zero electric vehicles GmbH partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- DSW21 Dortmund (Dortmunder Stadtwerke)reference_customerMunicipal public transport operator in Dortmund. TO ZERO converted MAN A23 articulated buses for their fleet. Bus with license plate DO-ZERO became symbol of transport transition. Reference customer for municipal transport applications.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
to zero electric vehicles GmbH competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MAN Truck & Bus SE: OEM of the MAN A20/A23 buses that TO ZERO's earliest reference projects convert (DSW21 Dortmund). MAN's Lion's City E is a competing new E-bus offering, and MAN's dealer/service network could enable a competing retrofit program.
- Solaris Bus & Coach: European leader in zero-emission buses (Urbino series) and a planned target for TO ZERO's 2026 portfolio expansion. Direct OEM competitor for new electric bus procurement by the same municipal customers.
- BYD Auto Industry: World's largest manufacturer of electric buses, aggressively pricing new E-buses in Europe and compressing the cost differential that underpins TO ZERO's retrofit value proposition.
- Wrightbus: UK-based manufacturer of hydrogen and battery-electric buses, including the StreetDeck and Hydroliner platforms. Comparable to TO ZERO's European municipal and coach segment with a broad low/zero-emission product portfolio.
- NFI Group (New Flyer): North American market leader in heavy-duty transit buses (Xcelsior CHARGE) with growing European presence. Comparable in serving large municipal fleet electrification programs at scale.
- VDL Bus & Coach: Dutch manufacturer of electric city and coach buses (Citea, Futura), competing with TO ZERO for European public transport operators investing in zero-emission fleets.
- Daimler Truck AG (Mercedes-Benz eCitaro): Manufacturer of the eCitaro, one of the European new E-bus benchmarks and a platform TO ZERO explicitly converts. Established OEM with full service, financing, and dealer network that competes against retrofit on the new-vehicle side of the same customer decision.
Direct peers
- Equipmake: UK-based electric powertrain specialist that repowers diesel buses (including double-deckers) with proprietary electric drivetrains. Direct comparable in bus electrification conversion, with overlapping target market of European municipal and coach operators.
- e-troFit GmbH: German bus electrification retrofit startup converting diesel city buses to electric drive, serving the same EU municipal ÖPNV market under the same Clean Vehicles Directive pressure. Closest direct competitor to TO ZERO in the European bus retrofit space.
Emerging players
- Zenobē: UK battery storage and EV fleet solutions provider that finances and operates electric bus and depot battery assets. Comparable to TO ZERO's depot charging/storage offering and its addressing of municipal capex barriers through energy-as-a-service models.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
to zero electric vehicles GmbH social profiles
Digital presenceto zero electric vehicles GmbH compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
to zero electric vehicles GmbH financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
to zero electric vehicles GmbH leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
to zero electric vehicles GmbH funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
to zero electric vehicles GmbH M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about to zero electric vehicles GmbH
What does to zero electric vehicles GmbH do?
TO ZERO converts existing diesel buses into fully electric vehicles using its TÜV-certified Modular Propulsion System v4.0, replacing the complete diesel drivetrain with an electric motor (up to 410 kW), modular LFP battery packs (200–400+ kWh), HV wiring, cooling, control electronics, and proprietary vehicle software. The offering extends to depot charging infrastructure (load management, buffer storage, optional PV) and after-sales service including 5-year maintenance packages and a cold-weather Winter Upgrade.
Is to zero electric vehicles GmbH a public or private company?
to zero electric vehicles GmbH is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was to zero electric vehicles GmbH founded?
to zero electric vehicles GmbH was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is to zero electric vehicles GmbH based?
to zero electric vehicles GmbH is headquartered in Erfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does to zero electric vehicles GmbH make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bus Retrofit / Conversion is the primary driver. The others are charging Infrastructure and service and Maintenance.
Who are to zero electric vehicles GmbH's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MAN Truck & Bus SE, Solaris Bus & Coach, BYD Auto Industry, Wrightbus, NFI Group (New Flyer), VDL Bus & Coach and Daimler Truck AG (Mercedes-Benz eCitaro). Direct peers are Equipmake and e-troFit GmbH. Zenobē is listed as an emerging player.
Does to zero electric vehicles GmbH have an API?
No public API is recorded for to zero electric vehicles GmbH.
What industry is to zero electric vehicles GmbH in?
to zero electric vehicles GmbH's product category is Electric Commercial Vehicle Retrofit. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAMAK, EV Retrofit & Electrification Conversions (Fleet/Commercial), with a secondary code of TLAKAMAI, EV Power Electronics & Drivetrain Electrification Service (Inverters, DC-DC, eAxles). Its NAICS code is 33632 and its SIC code is 3600.