MOVES Plan: A Great Unknown for 74% of Spaniards

At least until June 30 of this year, users who purchase low-emission vehicles or install a charging point can benefit from up to 7,000 euros in subsidies from the MOVES plan, as the government has approved an additional six-month extension for this incentive.

The aid from the MOVES Plan varies depending on the type of vehicle you wish to acquire and whether you scrap an old vehicle. Generally, the aid is granted as a direct discount on the vehicle's purchase price.

Grants for 100% electric cars are usually higher, especially if an old vehicle is scrapped, but plug-in hybrids are also eligible for aid. There are also grants available for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vans and other commercial vehicles.

However, according to the results of the Mobility Forum by Alphabet, a corporate mobility and fleet management company of the BMW Group, 74% of Spaniards are still unaware of this aid plan.

According to their data, 39% of drivers have considered acquiring a 100% electric vehicle, although among them, 36% are still undecided, highlighting the importance of promoting awareness of the aid.

Among the main barriers to acquisition are price (29%), charging infrastructure (23%), and limited range (23%). The MOVES III Plan subsidizes both the purchase of vehicles and the purchase or installation of charging points, directly addressing two of these three barriers, making the lack of awareness of this plan an obstacle to the transition to electric mobility.

According to the recent Electromobility Barometer by the Association of Manufacturers Afac, the electric vehicle market in Spain has experienced sustained growth in recent years, albeit at a slower pace than in other European countries.

The lack of charging infrastructure in some areas, high vehicle prices, and economic uncertainty are some of the challenges that still persist.

The first charging points for electric vehicles in Spain began to appear in the late 2000s, mainly in large cities and associated with pilot projects.

Since 2015, with the launch of the first incentive plans for the purchase of electric vehicles, there has been a notable increase in the installation of charging points. In recent years, the number of charging points has continued to grow steadily, although at an uneven pace across different regions of Spain.

According to data from the latest Electromobility Barometer by Anfac for the fourth quarter of 2024, the number of public access charging points has increased by 32% during 2024, with 9,424 more points than the previous year, reaching a total of 38,725 operational points.

This evolution could be even more positive if the 11,446 charging points that are installed but not operational for various reasons were to start functioning. This figure implies that 22.8% of the total installed infrastructure in Spain is not providing service. If operational, Spain would have 50,171 public access charging points.

During 2024, 115,935 new electrified passenger cars were sold, a figure that represents an increase compared to the 113,784 units of the previous year, although still far from the target of 280,000 sales set for this year to meet the decarbonization goals established in the Fit for 55.