Credit: MECDD
Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development has announced the extension of the "Clever fueren" financial aid scheme for the promotion of electric mobility until 31 March 2024.
Last week, the Government Council adopted a draft Grand-Ducal regulation extending the "Clever fueren" financial aid scheme for an additional 24 months, i.e. until the end of March 2024.
Aimed at zero CO2 and active mobility, this scheme will continue to promote pure electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), as well as pedal electric cycles (pedelecs).
The financial aid of €8,000, introduced under the "Neistart Lëtzebuerg" programme, will be maintained for 100% electric cars, provided that the vehicle's electrical energy consumption does not exceed 180 Wh / km (equivalent to 18 kWh / 100 km) - a value respected by around 80% of pure electric cars newly registered in 2021.
In addition, this threshold has been extended to 200 Wh / km (equivalent to 20 kWh / 100 km), provided that the maximum net power of the propulsion system of the 100% electric car is less than or equal to 150 kilowatts. This provision will make it possible to allocate a grant of €8,000 for medium-sized cars which are suitable, for the most part, for the transport of five people. Moreover, as the electrical energy consumption of a number of 100% electric cars is around 180 Wh / km, the choice of certain options may cause this threshold to be slightly exceeded. Thus, the proposed change will simplify the configuration of car options for cars with a maximum net power less than or equal to 150 kilowatts.
For more energy-consuming or less energy-efficient cars whose electrical energy consumption exceeds the threshold of 180 Wh / km, the amount of the grant of €3,000 is also renewed. This also applies to the grant of €8,000 allocated for cars with seven or more seats, provided that the applicant is part of a household of at least five people, in order to take into account the needs of large families. For 100% electric vans and hydrogen-powered cars and vans, the amount of the grant remains unchanged at €8,000. For other 100% electric vehicles (e.g. quadricycles, motorcycles and mopeds), the amount of financial aid, revised upwards under "Neistart Lëtzebuerg", remain unchanged, i.e. 50% of the cost excluding value added tax of the vehicle, without exceeding €1,000.
These new provisions will apply to vehicles ordered between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024 and whose first entry into service takes place before the end of 2024, in order to take delivery times into account.
Finally, in order to avoid an "export" of state subsidies, the minimum holding period is being increased from seven to twelve months for all vehicles subject to the registration obligation. This provision will apply for vehicles ordered from 1 April 2022. However, the applicant, provided that it is a natural person who owns the vehicle, can submit an application for financial aid upon registration of the vehicle in his / her name. The other terms and conditions related to this aid remain unchanged.
Regarding plug-in hybrid electric cars and vans, the financial aid is not renewed beyond the end of 2021. However, considering the shortage of semiconductors at the global level and the resulting longer delivery times for new vehicles, the time taken for first entry into service taken into account for such vehicles is being extended by twelve months until 31 December 2022 for vehicles ordered no later than 30 September 2021. In order to ensure that only vehicles whose first registration was scheduled for 2021 are affected by this extension, the delivery date initially scheduled must be clearly indicated on the sales or leasing contract of the vehicle.
The financial aid allocated for pedelecs, the amount of which had been doubled under “Neistart Lëtzebuerg” (50% of the cost excluding value added tax of the vehicle, without exceeding €600), also remains unchanged. The new provisions will apply to pedelecs purchased between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024.
