4 million euros for the purchase of electric vehicles

Portugal is one of the countries supporting the purchase of electric vehicles. Despite the pandemic, support has been maintained this year, and support will continue until the end of the legislature, according to Environment and Climate Minister Matos Fernandez.

According to the governor, in the next state budget, 4 million euros will be saved to support the purchase of electric vehicles.

Buying electric vehicles with support until the end of the legislature

In an interview with Negócios e Antena 1, Matos Fernandez confirms that he will support the purchase of electric vehicles until the end of the legislature.

This incentive system has produced very good results. We increased it at the beginning of the Government, then increased it to 4 million, which is what is foreseen in this State Budget (OE), and this is what is most likely to be reflected in the next OE. During this legislature, this value will remain.

In addition to the topic of incentives to buy electric vehicles, Matos Fernandez was also asked about the end of the use of cars with internal combustion engines in Europe. Unlike what happened in Spain, Joao Pedro Matos Fernández refuses to set a date to stop production of combustion engine vehicles, Negochios said.

And when asked that Portugal did not sign the letter sent by some member states asking for a timetable from the commission for the transition, he believes that this is an inappropriate initiative, and even says that it is "quixotic - to impose a date."

Matos Fernandez also recalls that when he became minister, only 1% of cars sold in Portugal were electric. In the first quarter of this year, sales of electric vehicles in our country exceeded 15%. “In 2035, people will look at a diesel car the way my daughter looks at black and white television today,” said a government official.