The Electric Car, Only for Deep Pockets

40% of households that own an electrified car – that is, zero emissions or plug-in hybrid – have monthly incomes exceeding 3,000 euros. This figure is slightly above the average for men (2,872 euros), considerably higher than for women (2,426 euros), and below households with two adults and dependent children (3,308 euros).

That electric cars are expensive is not news: the best-selling model in Europe, the Tesla Model Y, starts at 45,000 euros, almost double the average salary in our country. High prices are one of the arguments often cited to explain the slow adoption of this type of propulsion.

But it is not the only reason; doubts about range, availability of charging points, charging speed, and the inefficiency of national incentive plans have also been cited to justify the lukewarm demand, which is losing market share compared to last year.

Some of these arguments have been debunked. Electric cars are already breaking world records for range that even exceed those of thermal engines; charging points remain unused for more than 90% of the time and, if using one with adequate power, stopping for 20 minutes is enough to recover 200 kilometers of range.

However, there is unanimity that incentives for buying electric cars are inefficient. The Moves plans, which can see up to a 7,000-euro discount on the purchase price if a thermal car over seven years old is traded in, take months to process—something automotive industry associations are calling to change.

According to Autoscout24, Sumauto's used car portal, these aids are not well-structured—not because of the timelines but "because they benefit buyers who do not need them" due to their high purchasing power.

In their view, the Spanish vehicle fleet faces a more pressing problem: aging. In 2023, the average age of vehicles exceeded 14 years. The company states that "the next Moves plan should target incomes with less access to vehicle purchases."

As a result, out of the two million used cars sold in Spain, most are models over 15 years old. According to Ganvam, the association representing distributor interests, this is creating "two parallel automotive markets."

What Autoscout24 proposes echoes similar measures from Ganvam: including used cars in incentive plans "as long as they do not exceed 10 years of age" and offering a discount proportional to the age of the new car.

Additionally, for electric vehicles, they believe eliminating VAT would be an effective measure to encourage purchases, as has been successful in Portugal. For example, a Fiat Grande Panda—a zero-emission vehicle with a range of 320 km—that starts at 25,000 euros could be acquired for 19,750 euros without VAT.