In the week in which the State Budget for 2027 is submitted to Parliament, Powerdot considers it essential to increase the total allocation intended to support the purchase of electric vehicles, ensuring even greater stability in the commitment made in the sector in Portugal over the past years.
For Luís Santiago Pinto, Co-founder & CEO of Powerdot, “2027 should be a year of consolidation of the transition to electric mobility, and not a sudden change of rules. Portugal has managed to advance rapidly and it is important to preserve the trust of consumers, companies and operators.”
- Guarantee a gradual transition to the new model of electric mobility
Powerdot argues that the transition from the current centralized MOBI.E model to a system of direct integration between operators should be carried out progressively, avoiding an abrupt change at the end of 2027. The company believes that the adaptation of billing systems, technical integrations and commercial models requires time and testing.
- Strengthen incentives for the purchase of 100% electric vehicles
It is essential to maintain support for the acquisition of electric vehicles until they reach greater price parity with combustion vehicles. In 2025, incentives for individuals, amounting to €8.8 million, ran out in a matter of hours. For 2026, the Environmental Fund forecasted €10 million, including 1,375 incentives of €4,000 for individuals.
In this context, Powerdot advocates an annual budget of €25 million to support the purchase of 100% electric vehicles by individuals in 2027. Maintaining the current €4,000 per vehicle support, this budget would enable 6,250 acquisitions, almost three times the number of supports currently foreseen.
The proposal seeks to create a response proportional to market evolution, ensuring that incentives continue to contribute to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles while they have not yet achieved price parity with combustion vehicles. As parity is reached, the incentives can be progressively reduced and, eventually, no longer be necessary.
According to ACAP data, 188,912 passenger light vehicles were registered between January and September 2026, with 100% electric vehicles already representing 29% of the total. If this trend continues, Powerdot estimates that around 75,600 passenger light vehicles could be electric in 2027. Considering that approximately 30% of new vehicles are purchased by individuals, the current €4,000 support could represent a theoretical need of about €91 million.
Powerdot, however, considers that a allocation of this size would not be realistic given the values practiced to date, and therefore proposes a €25 million budget as a balanced commitment between the need to accelerate the electrification of the vehicle fleet and a prudent use of public resources.
Experience from other markets also shows that these supports can take on a transitional character. In Norway, after several years of incentives for electric mobility, limitations on some benefits began to be introduced, including the VAT exemption on the purchase of electric vehicles.
- Preserve the tax benefits for corporate fleets
Companies represent a significant portion of the adoption of electric vehicles in Portugal. According to 2026 data from Transport & Environment, 100% electric vehicles account for about 25% of new corporate registrations in Portugal, more than three times the weight recorded in Spain.
Powerdot believes that the current tax incentives associated with VAT, autonomous taxation, ISV and IUC should be maintained, in order to preserve the role of companies in renewing and electrifying the national vehicle fleet.
- Concentrate the tax benefits on 100% electric vehicles
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles played a significant role in the initial phase of the transition to electric mobility. However, the evolution of the offer of 100% electric vehicles and the strengthening of charging infrastructure justify a reevaluation of the current tax framework applicable to PHEVs.
The latest ICCT data point to a substantial difference between real-world emissions and the certified emissions of these vehicles, raising doubts about the actual environmental impact associated with the tax benefits they continue to enjoy in some markets.
In this context, Powerdot believes that tax incentives should progressively favor 100% electric vehicles, aligning public support with technologies that have the greatest potential for emission reductions.
“The objective should be to create a stable and predictable framework that allows consumers, companies and operators to continue investing in electrification. The predictability of the rules is as important as the value of the incentives. The €25 million proposal for 2027 aims precisely to ensure that Portugal maintains the pace of adoption of electric vehicles, while the market moves toward a situation in which these supports can be progressively reduced,” adds Luís Santiago Pinto.
