Denmark’s left-wing party Enhedslisten (the Red-Green Alliance) wants to give low-income households in rural areas DKK 50,000 if they replace their petrol or diesel car with an electric one. The party’s political spokesperson, Pelle Dragsted, presented the idea to newspaper Jyllands-Posten ahead of the first parliamentary debate on next year’s budget.
The aim, according to Dragsted, is to help families who are hit hardest by high fuel prices. Many of them live outside the big cities, need to drive a lot and often own an old diesel car worth DKK 20,000 to 25,000. In his view, they cannot afford an EV, even though it would pay for itself over time.
Who could get the money
The details are not final, but the main conditions are clear. The support would go to households earning less than 80 percent of the average income, around DKK 29,000 a month per adult according to Jyllands-Posten. They would have to live in rural areas, defined among other things by the distance to public transport and to the nearest larger town.
To prevent speculation, applicants must have owned a petrol or diesel car for at least 12 months, and must not have owned an EV in the previous 12 months. It is not yet decided whether the support would also cover used EVs, whether there would be a price cap, or whether the old car would have to be scrapped.
The scheme would cover 50,000 households at a total cost of DKK 2.5 billion. Part of the money would come from a new tax on companies that make unusually large profits because of external events, similar to the windfall tax introduced on the energy sector during the 2022 energy crisis. Dragsted also argues that Denmark’s current commuting tax deduction is not targeted enough at the families who need help most.
Inspired by Sweden
The proposal is inspired by Sweden, which introduced a targeted EV premium, the elbilspremie, on 18 March 2026. The Swedish model pays rural, lower-income households SEK 1,300 a month for three years, a total of SEK 46,800, with an extra start-up payment of up to SEK 18,000 for those with the lowest incomes. It covers both new and used EVs, and is largely funded by the EU’s Social Climate Fund.
| Denmark (Enhedslisten proposal) | Sweden (elbilspremie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Political proposal | In force since 18 March 2026 |
| Amount | DKK 50,000 | SEK 1,300 a month for 36 months (SEK 46,800), plus up to SEK 18,000 for the lowest incomes |
| Income limit | Household income below 80% of the average | Household income below 80% of the average, no state income tax |
| Where | Rural areas far from public transport and larger towns | 177 rural municipalities and areas with limited public transport |
| Other conditions | Owned a petrol or diesel car for 12 months, no EV in the past 12 months | No EV or hybrid in the household in the past 12 months |
| Which cars | Not yet decided | New and used EVs priced SEK 64,800–450,000 |
| Funding | DKK 2.5 billion, partly from a new tax on windfall profits | 75% from the EU Social Climate Fund, 25% from the state budget |
The Danish proposal is not law and its details may change. Sources: Jyllands-Posten via TV 2 and Ritzau, Naturvårdsverket guidance via Swedish media.
Supporters and sceptics
For supporters, the idea is to help those who cannot afford the upfront cost of an EV, even if it would save them money over time. Targeting is also the lesson from Sweden: its earlier, general EV bonus was criticised for mostly going to buyers who could already afford a new car, which is why the new premium is aimed at rural, lower-income households.
Not everyone is convinced the money would be enough. Speaking to regional broadcaster TV 2 Nord, a local voice in one of Denmark’s lowest-income municipalities said that DKK 50,000 goes a long way, but not far enough for families who do not have the rest of the money.
Still only a proposal
For now, the DKK 50,000 is a political proposal, not a subsidy anyone can apply for. Enhedslisten will need a majority in parliament to make it happen. The debate comes as EVs face a higher registration tax in Denmark from 2027, which will make the most expensive models dearer, while cheaper EVs below the tax threshold remain unaffected.
