Barcelona launches €600 subsidy to replace petrol mopeds with electric

Source: Barcelona City Council | Mobility and transport | The city of Barcelona is taking a decisive step toward zero-emission urban mobility. From 1 March 2026, residents and businesses will be able to apply for a €600 subsidy when replacing a petrol-powered moped with a new electric model.

The incentive is part of a new 2026–2030 program designed specifically for L1e-B category mopeds (45 km/h), the segment that dominates urban two-wheeled mobility in southern European cities.

€15 million budget, up to 24,000 light electric vehicles

With a total budget of €15 million, the city aims to help introduce up to 24,000 new electric vehicles over the next four years. The ambition is clear: to progressively transition Barcelona’s moped fleet toward fully electric, zero-emission mobility. The €600 grant represents approximately 16% to 40% of the purchase price of a new electric moped, depending on the model and current market pricing. Compared to many European subsidy schemes, Barcelona’s approach is straightforward and highly accessible.

Simple conditions: scrap & replace

To qualify, applicants must scrap an existing combustion-engine moped. The process requires only two documents:

• Proof of purchase of the new electric moped
• Proof of scrapping of the old petrol vehicle

Scrapping services are provided free of charge through the municipal depots operated by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM), which also issue the official certificate required for the subsidy application.

Both individuals and legal entities residing in Barcelona are eligible. Grants will be allocated on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’ until the annual budget is exhausted.

Part of the City’s Climate Roadmap

The subsidy is embedded in Barcelona’s broader climate strategy, the Pla Clima, which outlines the city’s roadmap toward climate neutrality by 2030.

Urban areas are increasingly confronted with the tangible effects of climate change, from prolonged droughts to extreme heatwaves, phenomena that directly affect public health and quality of life. Two-wheeled mobility plays a crucial role in Mediterranean cities, and electrifying this segment is seen as one of the fastest and most cost-effective decarbonisation measures.

Barcelona has long positioned itself as a frontrunner in sustainable urban policy, and this new moped incentive reinforces its ambition to lead Europe’s transition toward clean mobility.

Note from THE PACK – Guy Salens:

“I can only applaud this kind of initiative. Barcelona is sending a clear and powerful message about its commitment to sustainable urban mobility. Let’s hope other major European cities follow this example and take equally decisive steps toward electrifying their two-wheeled fleets. For electric moped manufacturers and distributors: Barcelona remains a strategically important market where public policy continues to actively support the shift from combustion to electric two-wheelers.”