LISBON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's government announced Wednesday a new package of electric vehicle subsidies that includes, for the first time, a dedicated program for low-income households covering up to 80 percent of the purchase price, Environment Minister Maria da Graca Carvalho told parliament.
The program will support the acquisition of up to 20,000 vehicles for vulnerable families, with co-financing of up to 80 percent of the vehicle's value.
A parallel scheme for the general population, with rules similar to previous programs, will have a budget of approximately 50 million euros (56 million U.S. dollars).
The government will also support the purchase of up to 9,000 electric vehicles for micro-enterprises and will promote the acquisition of more sustainable heavy vehicles, alongside investment in their charging infrastructure.
Electric buses for low-density areas, to be used for worker and student mobility, will also be co-financed.
The previous electric vehicle subsidy program had a total budget of 10 million euros (11.2 million dollars), with incentives of up to 4,000 euros (4,480 dollars) for new fully electric vehicles priced up to 38,500 euros (43,120 dollars), or up to 55,000 euros (61,600 dollars) for models with more than five seats.
Carvalho framed the announcement in the context of Portugal's ongoing energy crisis, saying that "freeing Portugal from dependence on fossil fuels is not a chimera: it is an essential condition for a better future and less dependence on third parties." ■
