7,500 Romanians want subsidies for electric car purchases

About 7,500 Romanians have submitted applications to take part in the state-backed program for acquiring electric cars. The list with the authorized car producers and dealers within this program will be published this week, said Istvan Jakab, chairman of the Environment Fund Administration (AFM), reports local Profit.ro. The program may start at the end of the month. People who want to apply to the program can benefit from a ticket of RON 5,000 (over EUR 1,100) for buying a hybrid car and a ticket of EUR 4,400 for acquiring an electric car, without having to give in an old car. The average price of an electric car amounts to EUR 30,000. The total funds allocated for this program reach about EUR 1.1 million. The Environment Fund Administration is also trying to create a national infrastructure for recharging electric cars or hybrids. It will provide funds of EUR 15.4 million this year alone. Municipalities with over 50,000 inhabitants, public institutions, and companies can apply to the program. Kaufland and Auchan, two of the biggest local retailers, have already opened charging stations for electric cars at some of their stores. editor@romania-insider.com