EEC E-Trans 2026 program: how to finance and succeed in the electrification of your off-road machines

This financial assistance can speed up an investment decision. It does not guarantee the feasibility of the project, nor the performance of the machine once in the field. It is precisely on this technical dimension that BIBUS FRANCE from the feasibility study to the follow-up after commissioning.

What is the CEE E-Trans program ?

E-Trans is a programme financed by energy savings certificates (CEE) and led by ADEME. Initially dedicated to the electrification of heavy road vehicles, it has been extended motorised vehicles used in the construction, public works and agricultural sectors. Its objective is to remove some of the economic obstacles to the adoption of electric solutions, while supporting the infrastructure necessary for their operation.

This evolution responds to several challenges :

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants,
• Reduced noise and vibration, improved working conditions and reduced arduousness,
• Meeting the environmental requirements of clients
• and development of a European sector for the electrification of machinery.

The « Electric Construction Machinery 2026" is open from June 30 to December 31 2026.

The Electric Agricultural Machinery component: a second succession is announced

A budget of 10 million euros is allocated to this phase. Applications are examined as they arise, within the limits of available appropriations, and ADEME can close the scheme before maturity if the envelope is exhausted.

Three main categories of projects can be supported :

1. the acquisition of new construction machinery running exclusively on battery electricity, for own use ;
2. the acquisition of electric vehicles or the retrofit of existing equipment intended for rental ;
3. the acquisition of fixed or mobile charging infrastructure, or mobile battery charging units, not open to the public and mainly intended for construction machinery.

Important point : The scheme does not finance hybrid solutions. BIBUS France can design electric or hybrid architectures according to industrial needs, but the E-Trans construction site component currently open concerns off-road construction equipment running exclusively on battery electricity.

The first session of the "Electric Agricultural Machinery" component is now closed.
The Electrification Plan presented by the Government plans a second succession by the end of the year 2026.

As of the date of publication of this article, it should be noted that its dates, its final criteria and its procedures for submission have not yet been the subject of an official publication of the ADEME.

To learn more about the uses and technical benefits, see also our article on the electrification of agricultural machinery (link here to the article on AE)

Who can apply for the construction machinery component ?

The scheme is aimed at all types of entities : companies, local authorities and other public or private structures, regardless of their size, legal form, mode of governance or financing, as long as they carry out and bear the costs of investments giving rise to the right to a subsidy.

The following are particularly concerned : Buyers of machines, sponsors of a retrofit operation and investors in charging infrastructure.

Companies qualified as "in difficulty" within the meaning of European regulations are not eligible. The allocation of aid is neither automatic nor guaranteed: it depends on the conformity of the project, the quality of the application, the priorities of the scheme and the funds available.

Which construction equipment may be eligible ?

Eligible machinery is new or retrofitted self-propelled non-road mobile machinery, running exclusively on battery electricity and intended for construction site activities. This includes, in particular, uses related to public works, construction, civil engineering, mining and other activities related to the construction environment.

Are not eligible for this stream : vehicles designed primarily for agricultural, logistics, airport or demonstration use, as well as vehicles whose main purpose is not a construction site activity. Forklifts, aerial work platforms and scissor lifts are also excluded, except when they have an off-road configuration that complies with the conditions of the device.

A structuring European criterion: the EEA at the heart of eligibility

The regulation does not simply require that a vehicle be electric. It imposes several criteria for location within the European Economic Area (EEA).

• The final assembly of the machine or the retrofit operation must be carried out in the EEA.
• The final assembly of the battery pack must also be carried out in the EEA, subject to the exceptions provided for certain off-road platforms.
• The battery management system (BMS) must be designed or produced in the EEA, subject to the same exceptions.
• For new machines, the manufacturer must have an established research and development activity
• in the EEA.

These criteria are strategic. They reinforce the need for a documented architecture, of identified partners and a clear traceability of technological choices. They also give more weight to players capable of designing, integrating and industrialising solutions in a European ecosystem.

What level of assistance can be granted ?

Depending on the nature of the project, the size of the company and its location, the maximum rates can vary from 15 65% for electric vehicles or their retrofit, and 30 to 50% for charging infrastructure.

These rates are ceilings: the basis of calculation and the amount allocated depend on the characteristics of the project and the analysis of the file by ADEME.

→ Consult the official eligibility and funding conditions of the E-Trans programme

Why a subsidy is not enough to achieve electrification ?

Obtaining financing answers a budgetary question. This does not answer the technical questions that determine whether the machine will really be efficient, reliable and usable in its conditions of use.

Before selecting a motor, battery, controller or converter, it is necessary to understand the real mission of the machine: its work cycles, its power peaks, its torque needs, its useful range, its charging windows, its thermal environment, its integration, safety and maintenance constraints.

A poorly sized project can result in insufficient range, an oversized and expensive battery, charging incompatible with operations or underestimated thermal constraints…

Aid can reduce the investment cost, but it does not correct an ill-defined architecture.

The BIBUS France approach: from feasibility to field monitoring

BIBUS France designs and integrates electrification and hybridisation solutions for off-road vehicles. As part of the BIBUS Solutions offer, Its design office supports equipment manufacturers, manufacturers and industrialists in a co-development process.

From feasibility study to integration, prototyping, industrialisation and commissioning, the BIBUS France teams ensure the technical coherence of the project and support its evolution over time.