Portugal plans €15,000 electric-car aid for low-income families

Lower-income families in Portugal could receive substantial help to buy an electric car, with government support covering up to 80% of the vehicle’s eligible cost.

By Tereza Pedro, in News · 03 Nov 2026, 12:03 · 0 Comments

The scheme is expected to support the purchase of as many as 20,000 cars, although the application dates and full rules have not yet been announced.

The measure was presented by Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho during debate on the proposed State Budget for 2027. According to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the grant would cover up to 80% of the car’s purchase price before VAT, with a maximum contribution of €15,000 per vehicle. That is the maximum amount of support, rather than the maximum price of the car.

There may be an additional €1,000 for people who scrap a vehicle that runs on fossil fuels, bringing the maximum grant for the car to €16,000. The programme is also expected to include up to €1,000 towards installing a charging point, again calculated before VAT, according to details reported by ECO.

The support is aimed at people in financially vulnerable households. ECO reported that eligibility is expected to include people receiving the Social Energy Tariff and households with annual incomes below €11,572. The ministry estimates that the criteria could make the scheme accessible to around 1.576 million households across mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions. That does not mean support will be available to everyone who qualifies: the government has said the programme will cover up to 20,000 vehicles.

The announcement comes as the government plans to keep a separate electric-car incentive open to the general population. That programme is expected to have a budget of €50 million, with rules similar to previous rounds. The latest scheme for private buyers, which had a €10 million budget, ran out of funding within hours of opening in June, RTP reported.

For families on tighter budgets, the proposed grant could make an electric car more affordable. But there are still practical questions to answer, including which cars will qualify, how applicants will be selected and when they can apply. ECO reported that the ministry was still preparing the calendars for the different funding calls.

The government is also considering broader support for electric mobility, including help for microbusinesses, heavier vehicles and charging infrastructure. In a separate announcement, the Government said it is setting priorities for the EU’s Modernisation Fund through to 2030, including possible support for families buying electric vehicles.