Applications Opened at 10:00 and Filled All 2,200 Places by Afternoon
Portugal’s public subsidy program for the purchase of electric cars for private individuals ran out within a few hours today. The application window began at 10:00 and demand moved quickly. Two hours later, 82% of the 2,200 available places had already been taken. The remaining slots were filled shortly afterward, a ministry source confirmed to the Lusa news agency.
The speed of the process showed strong interest in state support for electric mobility. By mid-afternoon, the program no longer accepted new applications.
€8.8 Million Budget Received 2,203 Requests, With 2,201 Eligible
The government set aside €8.8 million for this part of the scheme, aimed at private buyers of electric vehicles. The goal was to grant 2,200 incentives. Data published on the Environmental Fund’s website around 4:00 p.m. showed that 2,203 applications had been submitted. Of these, 2,201 were considered eligible, while two were excluded.
According to the rules published online, the first-come, first-served system left little room for late applicants.
Buyers Receive €4,000 Per Electric Car With Scrappage of Old Vehicle
Under the program, the Environmental Fund pays €4,000 toward the purchase of a new, fully electric passenger car. To qualify, buyers must also scrap a fossil-fuel vehicle that is more than 10 years old. Eligible vehicles must be acquired through purchase or financial leasing with a minimum duration of 24 months, signed after January 1, 2025.
The final cost of the car can reach up to €38,500, including VAT and related expenses. For vehicles with more than five seats, the ceiling rises to €55,000. These limits define which models can benefit from public support and aim to keep the program focused on mid-range vehicles.
Bicycle and Motorcycle Incentives Also Exhausted, Covering Up to 800 Units
The rush was not limited to electric cars. Applications for incentives to buy conventional bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles, and quadricycles also ran out, the ministry said. For city bicycles, the subsidy covers 50% of the purchase price, including VAT, up to a maximum of €500. This category closes once 545 incentives or a total of €272,500 is reached.
Other categories include:
Cargo bicycles, with or without electric assistance, supported by a total budget of €1.2 million for up to 800 incentives.
Electric cargo bicycles can receive up to €1,500, while city electric bicycles have a ceiling of €750.
For motorcycles and similar vehicles, support also covers 50 percent of the price, up to €1,500, within a €750,000 budget that can cover 500 incentives.
Source: Diário de Notícias Madeira
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