Let’s be honest: if you manage a fleet of heavy machinery or trucks in 2025, you are feeling the pressure.
The Zero-Emission Zones are opening in 2025. Nitrogen rules are making it harder to get permits. You know you need to go electric. But when you look at the price tag of a brand-new electric excavator, and the 18-month delivery time that comes with it, it’s easy to get discouraged.
Do you really have to scrap your trusted diesel machines and spend a fortune on new ones?
The short answer is: No.
There is a smarter route that saves you money, keeps your favorite machines running, and gets you onto the zero-emission construction site much faster. It’s called diesel to electric repower.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what it is, why it’s often a better financial move than buying new, and how subsidies like the SSEB can pay for a chunk of the bill.
What Exactly is “Repowering”?
Think of a diesel to electric repower (or retrofit) as a heart transplant for your machine.
You have a Liebherr excavator or a DAF truck. The chassis is solid. The hydraulics are perfect. The cabin is comfortable. The only problem is the dirty diesel engine under the hood.
Instead of throwing the whole machine away, UMS removes the combustion engine and the fuel tank. In their place, we install a state-of-the-art electric powertrain and a high-density LFP battery system.
This isn’t a hobby project. It’s high-level engineering. We don’t just “swap an engine.” We integrate the software, the thermal management, and the safety systems so that your machine works exactly as it did before, just quieter, smoother, and without the exhaust fumes.
And yes, it’s fully certified. We handle the homologation so your “new” electric machine is 100% street-legal and insurable.
The Money Talk: Repower vs. Buying New
Why should you care about retrofitting diesel construction equipment? Simple. It’s better for your bottom line.
Here is the reality of the business case:
1. You Stop Wasting Capital
Why pay for a new chassis, new tires, and a new cabin when you already own them? When you buy a new electric machine, you pay for the whole package. When you repower, you only invest in the technology you actually need: the battery and the motor. This typically costs 30% to 50% less than buying new.
2. You Skip the Waiting Line
Ordering a new electric crane today often means you won’t see it until late 2026. That’s two years of lost tenders. A repower project is significantly faster. We can get your fleet ready for the Zero-Emission Zones before the deadline hits.
3. You Save Your Asset’s Value
A diesel truck that isn’t allowed in the city in 2025 is essentially a “stranded asset”, it loses its value fast. By converting it, you give that asset a second life. You extend its economic lifespan by another 7 to 10 years.
Free Money? Let’s Talk Subsidies (SSEB & AanZET)
Here is the part many fleet owners miss. They think government subsidies are only for new showroom vehicles.
That is false.
The Dutch government wants you to stop emitting CO2, and they don’t care if you do it with a new truck or a converted one.
- For Construction: The SSEB subsidy construction equipment scheme is specifically designed to cover a large percentage of the costs to retrofit your existing machines.
- For Transport: Schemes like AanZET and SEBA are there to support the transition of your trucks.
If you combine the lower cost of repowering with these subsidies, the Return on Investment (ROI) becomes undeniable. You are essentially getting a premium upgrade at a discount.
“But will it have enough power?”
We hear this question every day. There is a lingering myth that electric is “weak.”
The opposite is true.
Diesel engines need to rev up to give you power. Electric motors give you instant torque. The moment you touch the joystick, the power is there. Most operators who switch to our electric systems tell us they never want to go back to diesel. It’s smoother, quieter, and often stronger.
And what about charging? We know you can’t afford downtime. That’s why we don’t just look at the battery; we look at your schedule.
- Need to run 24/7? We install swappable battery systems.
- No grid connection? We provide mobile charging solutions right on the site.
Conclusion: A Second Life for Your Fleet
The transition to zero-emission isn’t coming; it is already here. But that doesn’t mean you have to bankrupt your company buying new equipment.
Diesel to electric repower is the pragmatic choice. It’s the choice for the fleet owner who looks at a perfectly good excavator and sees potential, not scrap metal.
It allows you to keep your trusted machines, lower your monthly costs, and walk onto any construction site in the Netherlands with a green stamp of approval.
Curious if your specific machine can be converted? Don’t guess. Contact the engineers at UMS. We can perform a quick feasibility scan to see if your fleet is ready for a second, electric life.
Yes. In almost every case, a diesel to electric repower is 30-50% cheaper than a new factory electric vehicle. You save the cost of the body, cabin, and hydraulic system.
Yes! The SSEB subsidy construction equipment scheme specifically targets the retrofit of existing machinery to zero-emission. It is designed to help you upgrade your current fleet.
We specialize in electrifying heavy equipment from major brands like Liebherr, Hyundai, DAF, and more. If it has a solid chassis and a diesel engine, we can likely convert it.
We specialize in electrifying heavy equipment from major brands like Liebherr, Hyundai, DAF, and more. If it has a solid chassis and a diesel engine, we can likely convert it.
