Barcelona pays €600 for your old moped if you choose an electric one

Barcelona is launching a €600 grant for people who swap their petrol moped for an electric one. The City Council provides free scrapping and is preparing 64 battery stations. The change begins on 1 March.

Barcelona is taking a decisive step towards electric mobility: the City Council is offering €600 to those who hand in their combustion-engine moped and acquire an electric one. The measure, part of the Climate Plan 2030, seeks to reduce noise and pollution in a city where motorbikes form part of the urban landscape.

To access the grant, it is essential to scrap the old moped. The procedure is carried out free of charge at Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) depots, where the certificate needed to apply for the subsidy is issued. The aim is clear: to eliminate petrol mopeds before 2030.

The grant covers between 16% and 40% of the price of a new electric moped, depending on the model. The plan is aimed especially at young people, the main users of these vehicles, and seeks to ensure that no one is left out of the energy transition.

The City Council will also invest nearly €3 million in a network of 64 battery-swapping stations. Inspired by successful models such as Taiwan’s, this system will allow a flat battery to be exchanged for a full one in seconds, eliminating the wait for traditional charging.

The programme officially starts on 1 March. From that date, those who buy an electric moped will be able to apply for the grant. If you have a 49cc moped in the garage, this may be the time to say goodbye to smoke and noise.