Up to 6,000 euros to buy a used electric car: an idea to boost the market

Netherlands prepares aid to purchase a used electric car. The measure is intended for low-income families and requires the surrender of an old gasoline or diesel vehicle.

The Dutch government wants to launch a program that allows certain drivers to receive between 4,000 and 6,000 euros in assistance when buying a used electric car. The proposal was put forward by State Secretary Annet Bertram, in charge of sustainable transport, and comes with a budget of 52.4 million euros.

The aid would be targeted at people with lower incomes. Those with annual earnings between 12,500 and 27,533 euros could receive up to 6,000 euros, while those earning more than that but less than 35,793 euros would be eligible for 4,000 euros in assistance.

That said, these are not yet final figures. The Dutch government must determine both the amounts and income limits, and so far there has been no announcement on when the deadline for applying for the aid will begin. The proposal is part of the measures to compensate for rising energy and fuel costs.

In addition, there is an important condition. To qualify for the aid, the buyer must surrender their old gasoline or diesel car for dismantling. This way, the program does not merely subsidize the purchase of a used electric car but also aims to accelerate the replacement of internal combustion engine vehicles still on the roads.

The program is intended for people with incomes below 130% of the minimum wage and will be funded by the Dutch climate fund. According to the government, these funds will be available until 2028. This measure adds to other subsidies aimed at reducing the impact of rising energy and fuel costs.

What if it were applied in Spain?

The idea is particularly interesting if we look at Spain, although market conditions there are different and there is currently no equivalent program with these features. However, the impact would be greater since our income levels are much lower than those in the Netherlands. A subsidy of 4,000 or 6,000 euros applied to the Spanish market could completely change the final price of some used electric cars that are already starting to become relatively affordable.

For example, a used Tesla Model 3 can currently be found in Spain for around 20,000 to 25,000 euros, depending on the year, mileage, and version. With a subsidy like the one proposed in the Netherlands, the effective price could range approximately between 14,000 and 21,000 euros for buyers who meet the requirements.

A similar situation applies to the Renault ZOE, one of the electric cars that has depreciated the most over the years. Used units can cost around 10,000–13,000 euros, so a subsidy of 4,000 euros would significantly reduce the outlay required to acquire an electric vehicle with a battery capacity of 40–50 kWh and a real range of 200–300 km.

Even much newer models could fall under this scheme. The Renault 5 E-Tech is already appearing on the used market at prices ranging from approximately 21,000 to 25,000 euros. A subsidy of five or six thousand euros would make them highly attractive options.

The key lies precisely there. Instead of focusing subsidies exclusively on new electric cars, a program like this would allow support to reach a much larger used car market, where many buyers who cannot afford a new electric vehicle are located.

In addition, the requirement to retire a gasoline or diesel car introduces another interesting element: public funds would not only be used for vehicle replacement but also to eliminate older cars with internal combustion engines from the road fleet.

For now, all of this is taking place in the Netherlands, and the final design of the program remains unknown. But this proposal raises an issue that is also gaining importance in Spain: if we want to accelerate the renewal of the vehicle fleet, the used car market can be just as important as the new car market.