SEPP subsidy pot for used electric cars is completely empty

We can see it all in front of us through years of Donald Duck indoctrination: an empty, dusty treasure chest, which, after being turned upside down, only causes an old knot to descend to the earth. The amount of money for the Subsidy Scheme for Electric Passenger Cars for Private Individuals (SEPP) is of course not that tangible, but it is certainly completely empty.

At least, for used EVs. A total of €32,400,000 was available for this in 2023. Private individuals who purchased a used EV in 2023 could claim a compensation of €2,000 under not too strict conditions. On November 20, 2023 – that is, today – exactly 0 euros of this amount is still available. In theory, this could still change if current applications are not approved and the money becomes available again. In practice, however, we do not expect much from this. There will be another opportunity next year, when the government will make a new SEPP budget available. Of course, the running out of the SEPP budget does not come out of the blue, so last week we were able to warn you about the impending end. ‘Very last chance!’ my colleague Krijgsman then shouted to you via his keyboard. Apparently that was accepted, because one weekend later it already happened.

As is known, there is also a SEPP subsidy for new EVs, which yields €2,950 per car. That ‘pot’ was a lot larger at 67 million euros, but is running considerably slower. Today, 41 percent of the total is still available, namely 27,420,000 euros. Even with almost 3 grand in compensation, the new EV often turns out not to be a feasible or at least not an attractive option for private individuals. For the time being, it does not appear that this will lead to other measures, because in principle the same SEPP scheme awaits us again next year.