kathimerini.gr
Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" Program in Greece Faces Funding Exhaustion
Greece's "Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" program, launched August 5, 2025, to subsidize electric vehicle purchases, has only €9.05 million remaining of its €57 million budget, with only €6.08 million allocated for private individuals, indicating a potential budget exhaustion by September 2025.
- How has the limited budget affected electric vehicle sales and market share in Greece, and what are the broader implications?
- The dwindling budget has caused a decrease in electric car sales. In July 2025, the market share of new fully electric cars dropped to 4.5% compared to 7.2% in July 2024. This is compounded by high electric vehicle prices relative to Greek household incomes. The EU-wide market share for fully electric vehicles is 15.6%, highlighting Greece's lagging adoption rate.
- What is the current status of the Greek government's "Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" program designed to incentivize electric vehicle adoption?
- As of late 2025, the "Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" program has only €9.05 million remaining from its initial €57 million budget. Of this, a mere €6.08 million is earmarked for private citizens to purchase electric cars. The program is expected to exhaust its funds by the end of September 2025.
- Considering the challenges faced by the "Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" program, what are the potential short-term and long-term consequences for electric vehicle adoption in Greece?
- The program's imminent funding depletion will likely hinder electric vehicle uptake in the short term. Long-term consequences include a potential delay in Greece meeting its environmental targets and a continued reliance on petrol and diesel vehicles, as indicated by their 33.1% and 3.1% market share respectively in the first seven months of 2025 compared to 39.7% and 8.8% the previous year. The popularity of hybrid vehicles remains high, with a 49% market share in the same period.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced view of the "Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" program, outlining both its successes and shortcomings. While it highlights the rapid depletion of the budget and resulting public discontent, it also provides context by mentioning the program's total budget, allocation breakdown, and the high price of electric vehicles. The inclusion of sales figures, both for electric and other vehicle types, offers a broader perspective beyond the program's immediate impact.
Bias by Omission
The article could benefit from including information on the reasons behind the unexpectedly high demand, which would provide more context for the program's early budget depletion. Additionally, perspectives from the government regarding potential future funding or program adjustments could offer a more complete picture. However, given space constraints, these omissions are understandable.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article discusses the Greek government's "Kinoumai Ilektrika 3" program, which provides subsidies for purchasing electric vehicles. This directly relates to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by promoting the adoption of sustainable transportation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. While the program's budget is limited and quickly depleted, the initiative itself aims to advance cleaner energy solutions.