Portugal plans 80% electric car aid for low-income families in 2027

The announcement

Portugal's Minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced on Wednesday, 28 October, a new support programme for electric cars aimed at lower-income households. She made the announcement during the parliamentary debate on the general principles of the 2027 State Budget proposal (OE2027). The minister said the scheme would cover more than 20,000 vehicles, with co-financing of up to 80% of the price. Notícias ao Minuto reported a ceiling of 15,000 euros excluding VAT for the support. The government had not yet set out eligibility rules, and the programme is one of several incentives planned for 2027.

“We will also maintain the incentives for buying electric vehicles for the general population, with rules similar to the past, but with an allocation of about 50 million euros.”

Details still undefined

Income thresholds, price limits, the maximum support per car and the access conditions for families have not been released. It is also unclear whether the new incentives will keep the price limits, support rates or other conditions of the last tender. Observador raised the question of whether buyers could sell a car right after purchase and make a quick profit. Such resale questions remain open until the rules are published.

Pedro Faria, president of the board of the Electric Vehicle Users Association (UVE), welcomed the proposals in comments to PÚBLICO. He said some of the measures move in the direction the association set out in its proposals for OE2027.

“These are excellent news, some of them go in the direction of what UVE presented in its proposals for OE2027.”

Faria added that the details, especially the plans for effective implementation, still need to be seen. He recalled that announcements made earlier in 2026 were not carried through.

The previous tender and the wider package

The last tender, run by the Environmental Fund, carried a budget of 10 million euros and sold out within hours. It offered buyers up to 4,000 euros for a new 100% electric passenger car priced up to 38,500 euros, or up to 55,000 euros for vehicles with more than five seats. Vehicles bought since 1 January 2025 were eligible. The 2027 plan keeps similar rules for the general population but raises the allocation to about 50 million euros.

Last tender (June 2026)10

2027 general scheme (OE2027)50

Last tender (June 2026)

10 million euros

2027 general scheme (OE2027)

50 million euros

Data from the article text

The government also plans support for up to 9,000 electric vehicles for microcompanies, along with incentives for heavier, more sustainable vehicles and an expanded charging network for them. It intends to co-finance 700 electric buses for low-density areas, where they would serve workers and students. A new programme of 100 million euros is aimed at decarbonising sectors with high natural gas use, such as ceramics and glass. Building renovation, electrification and renewable energy incentives are expected to reach more than 50,000 homes by 2032.

What comes next

The sequence so far runs from the sold-out tender opened in June 2026 to the announcement in parliament on 28 October. The new support is planned for 2027, but the government has not given a start date. The eligibility criteria and the final support rules are still to be set.

The outcome of the budget process will determine whether these measures take effect as announced. Until the rules are published, buyers and dealers will have only the minister's figures from the parliamentary debate.