The state support for the purchase of electric vehicles, which had retroactive effects from January 1, was exhausted just a few hours after the application process opened – it was 8.8 million euros for 2,200 individuals in just over six hours (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM). The Minister of the Environment, Maria Graça Carvalho, announced more incentives for 2026.
The government’s support for the purchase of electric cars, in the case of the acquisition of light passenger vehicles by individuals, required a payment of €4,000 for the purchase of a new car without an internal combustion engine and mandated the scrapping of a vehicle over ten years old that consumed fossil fuels. This “contract” covered vehicles acquired through purchase and sale or financial leasing, with a minimum duration of 24 months, and a price of up to €38,500, including VAT and expenses.
The support also included vehicles with more than five seats, which raised the limit to €55,000, also including VAT and expenses; bicycles for use in the city; and electric-assist cargo bicycles. In about two hours, funding amounts were exhausted, according to a source from the ministry that manages the Environmental Fund, as reported by various national media outlets.
In the first 11 months of the year, and according to figures from the Automobile Association of Portugal (ACAP), 22.9% of new cars registered in our country had electric drivetrains – the technology even represented 32.5% of sales in November! In the same period, models with gasoline engines accounted for only 25% of sales, and those powered by diesel engines did not exceed 5.7%. This explains the “rush” for the supports.
