New proposal: Electric car bonus also for used electric cars

The electric car bonus that disappeared in November 2022 is being dusted off, albeit in a new form. According to a proposal from the government, the support will be specifically targeted at certain households, such as those living in sparsely populated areas. And the plan is for the bonus to also include used electric cars.

In May 2023, an EU regulation was adopted on the establishment of a social climate fund. The regulation requires each Member State to submit a social climate plan to the EU Commission by 30 June 2025.

A proposal for a climate bonus for electric cars has been developed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, on behalf of the government, and is included in Sweden's plan for the EU's Social Climate Fund. The cost? Just over SEK 3.3 billion between 2026 and 2032.

Six out of ten Swedes are positive about the proposal

Via Kantar Sifor, we asked Swedes the question: The government has plans to introduce a climate bonus for electric cars that is targeted at groups with special needs for support, such as those living in sparsely populated areas. Do you think this is a good idea? In total, 58 percent of Swedes are positive about the proposal, and support is strongest among those with the lowest incomes. Of those earning less than 22,000 kronor a month, two out of three (66%) are in favor of a targeted electric car premium. Among high-income earners – with 65,000 kronor or more in monthly income – only 52 percent are positive, and a full 42 percent are negative.

– If we are serious about ensuring that everyone can participate in the green transition, support must be directed to those who have the greatest need – but who have the most difficulty taking the step, says Daniel Odsberg, Sales Manager at Kvdbil .

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's proposal: Include used electric cars

The previous bonus, which was removed in 2022, only included new electric cars, which meant that only the first owner of the car was eligible for the bonus. However, the new proposal developed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency covers both new and used cars. The next step is for the government to present the proposal to the European Commission. And if the process goes according to plan, the new climate bonus could come into effect from January 2026.

For the climate bonus to really make a difference, Daniel Odsberg believes that the support should also include used electric cars, a market that has grown significantly. In 2024, sales of used electric cars increased by almost 66 percent, and the supply is growing rapidly. At the same time, prices have fallen significantly, especially in the lower price ranges. By targeting the support here as well, more households will have the opportunity to switch.

– Many assume that electric cars are too expensive, but the used market shows a different reality. There is a wide range here in all price ranges – from simpler models under 100,000 SEK to more luxurious variants over half a million. At Kvdbil we sell most electric cars in the range of 100,000 to 200,000 SEK. A new electric car often costs three times as much. Including used electric cars in the climate bonus is therefore an effective way to lower the threshold and give the transition the boost it needs to go all the way.

The premium in brief:

According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's proposal, the size of the premium is proposed to amount to SEK 54,000 per case for applications received during the first 2.5 years of the support period. If the application is received after that, the premium will be reduced to SEK 36,000. You can take advantage of the bonus whether you buy or lease the car, and the proposal applies to both new and used electric cars. The premium will be paid monthly over a period of 36 months. The proposal does not state how many times one and the same car can be used to receive a premium.