During the last budget preparation, Minister of Mobility Lydia Peeters (Open Vld) introduced a premium for those who buy an electric car. This amounts to 5,000 euros for a new car and 3,000 euros for a second-hand car. The Flemish government had initially provided 20 million euros for this year. If that amount is not sufficient, another 6 million euros will be used from climate resources. Applications can still be submitted until the end of this year.
However, the latest information shows that the amount of 26 million euros has already been exceeded. On April 18, there were already 4,980 registrations of new electric cars and 932 of second-hand cars. If all applications are declared admissible, an amount of 27,696,000 euros will have to be provided to pay out all premiums.
If applications continue at the same pace, another 28 applications will be added every day. “Taking into account the small number of inadmissible files, most applications will be approved and therefore have to be paid out,” says Mertens. “The budgets provided will therefore simply not be sufficient. Where will the minister obtain these additional budgets? Will there be further savings on De Lijn, on student transport in special education or on road safety? A promise is a promise, a reliable government must keep promises made. We have warned the minister about this several times.”
