80% help to buy an electric car for those on the social electricity tariff or earning under €11,572 a year. Car up to €15,000
The Ministry of Environment and Energy has explained who will be eligible for the new electric car subsidy announced by the minister, Maria da Graça Carvalho, on 28 October. It will be open to people on the social electricity tariff (tarifa social de energia) and to households with an annual income below €11,572, which is 80% of the median income according to the INE statistics institute. The ministry estimates that more than 1.5 million people meet these conditions (ECO), but only €104.5 million has been set aside, enough for about 5,500 cars (Jornal de Negócios).
The state will pay 80% of the car's price before IVA (VAT), up to a maximum of €15,000. Anyone who scraps a petrol or diesel car will get a further €1,000, bringing the maximum to €16,000. The car itself can cost more: the price limit is about €37,500 before IVA, though this has not yet been approved. Both new cars and used cars up to five years old qualify, as long as they are bought from a dealer or a car showroom (ECO, Jornal de Negócios). Separately, up to €1,000 before IVA will be paid towards installing a charger (Razão Automóvel).
The cheapest electric car on sale is the Dacia Spring at €13,300 before IVA, for which the state would pay about €10,600 (Correio da Manhã).
The ministry has not yet said when applications will open. The regular electric car subsidy, open to everyone regardless of income, will also continue in 2027, with €50 million set aside for it in the budget.
