E-mobility: The dynamics of electric vehicles in Greece is increasing

More and more Greek drivers are taking advantage of the “Move Electric” program, to subsidize the purchase of an electric vehicle, according to information from the Ministry of Environment and Energy that was forwarded to the Parliament, as part of the parliamentary audit.

According to the relevant document, the total number of electric cars circulating in Greece, at the end of November 2022, amounted to 17,801.

The first cycle of “Move Electric”

With the first round of the “Move Electric” action, whose application deadline was 31/12/2021, the applications submitted were approximately 19,000 (9% for cars, 22% for two-wheeled vehicles, 69% for bicycles), from of which by the end of November approximately 15,000 had been approved and 8,000 had been paid. The total budget committed to approved applications to date is 18.5 million euros.

The second cycle

The second cycle of the “Move Electric” action started on 7/28/2022 and has retroactive effect for expenses, which were carried out from 12/1/2021. With the aim of increasing the penetration of electric vehicles, the second cycle of the action gives higher percentages and subsidy amounts for electric vehicles to natural and legal persons, who will buy or rent electric vehicles, compared to the first cycle, and in addition bonus for young people aged 18-29. At the same time, the subsidies for smart home chargers, for the disabled and those with many children remain. The statistics of the second cycle at the end of November 2022 are as follows:

– Submitted applications: approximately 10,500, of which 28% concern cars, 37% bicycles and 35% tricycles.

– Applications that have been included in affiliation decisions: approximately 1,700.

– Claims paid: 300 approx.

The second cycle of the action does not include taxis, for which the “Green Taxis” action is in the final preparation phase, financed with 40 million euros from the Recovery and Resilience Fund (TAA). The action envisages the replacement of around 2,000 old and polluting EURO 5 or older taxis with new, purely electric vehicles with mandatory withdrawal and destruction of the old vehicle.

Regarding the sales of electric cars, according to the November 2022 statistics of the Automobile Dealers Association, in the 11 months of January – November 2022, 7,498 electric cars were registered, a percentage of 7.6% of all registrations.

The information was forwarded by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Kostas Skrekas, in response to a question and request for the submission of documents submitted by SYRIZA MPs. The MPs had asked the ministry to inform the Parliament about the absorption of “Move Electric”.