What subsidies are available for electric cars in Switzerland?
An important topic that is crucial for many with regard to the switch to alternative drive systems: the promotion of electric cars in Switzerland. Unlike in other countries, there is no nationwide regulation in Switzerland, but different support measures at national, cantonal and even regional level.
Electric cars differ from gasoline and diesel vehicles in certain cost points. One of these cost items is the subsidy. In order to encourage the switch to alternative drive systems, discounts have been introduced in numerous countries in the past. In Switzerland, for example, electric cars are exempt from the 4 percent automobile tax at the national level. Whether the dealers pass on this discount is up to them.
In addition, there have been some programs at the cantonal level that directly support the purchase of an electric car with subsidies. These have already been lifted or will be lifted by the end of 2022 in most cantons. However, subsidies at cantonal and regional level still exist – mainly in the form of tax benefits. Find out here where you can get which funding.
Regional subsidies for the purchase of electric cars
Regardless of cantonal regulations, individual municipalities or regions in the catchment area of certain power plants still have separate rules regarding the promotion of electric cars. The following regional subsidies currently exist (as of May 2022) and directly support the purchase of an electric vehicle:
Lucerne - Municipality of Hochdorf:
CHF 500 when buying an electric car
Schwyz - District of Schwyz:
300 to 1,000 francs when buying an electric car (only until 31.12.2022)
Thurgau - Electricity customers of the Romanshorn power plant:
5 percent discount on the purchase price of the electric car (only for electricity customers of EW Romanshorn and subject to certain conditions)
Vaud - Municipality of Ecublens:
1,500 francs when buying a new electric car
Zurich - Catchment area of industrial companies Kloten:
CHF 1,000 for the purchase of an electric car (for customers of Industrielle Betriebe Kloten – if the application is submitted no more than 2 months after purchase)
Zurich - Dübendorf and Gockhausen:
1,000 francs when buying a new electric car
Cantonal support through tax benefits
Funding at the cantonal level is mainly provided through tax benefits. Traffic charges for motor vehicles must be paid once a year. These taxes are then used to finance the expansion and maintenance of cantonal roads. As a result, motor vehicle tax is determined at cantonal level.
How is motor vehicle tax composed?
The calculation is usually based on total weight, displacement, engine power or a combination of the three factors. Since electric cars have no engine capacity, the other two values are mainly used. This is not without problems: Because of their battery, electric vehicles are often heavier than comparable gasoline engines and have a higher engine power.
The calculation of motor vehicle tax can therefore lead to a higher tax bill for electric cars. To counteract this, many cantons offer certain discounts for particularly environmentally friendly vehicles. The assessment of whether a car is considered environmentally friendly can depend on the type of vehicle, but also on CO₂ emissions per kilometer or energy efficiency.
Click on your canton of residence and find out all the details on how to calculate the traffic tax for your car.
These discounts are available in your canton of residence for traffic taxes
Aargau
No discounts – transport taxes are calculated according to engine capacity.
Appenzell Innerrhoden
No discounts – traffic taxes are calculated by weight.
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
No discounts – traffic taxes are calculated by weight.
Basel-Landschaft
Discounts in the first four years after placing on the market:
- Less than 95 grams of CO₂ emissions: 300 francs discount per year
- Less than 105 grams of CO₂ emissions: 150 francs discount per year
- Extremely high CO₂ emissions: tax surcharges
Traffic taxes are calculated by weight.
Stadt
Electric cars: 50 percent discount for the first 10 years after they are put on the market, but a maximum of 250 francs per year. Only applies as long as the share of e-cars in Basel-Stadt is below 5 percent.
Traffic charges are calculated according to curb weight and CO₂ emissions – in the case of electric vehicles only by weight.
Bern
In the first four years, there is a 40 percent discount on vehicles with energy efficiency A and a 20 percent discount for vehicles with energy efficiency B.
For electric cars without a combustion engine, there is even a 60 percent discount and the standard tax is only half as high.
Traffic taxes are calculated by weight.
Fribourg
Category A vehicles do not pay any traffic tax for the first three years. Vehicles of category D or worse pay 5 percent more than other cars.
Traffic charges are calculated according to engine capacity.
Geneva
Up to 120 grams of CO₂ emissions: 50 percent waiver of traffic taxes From 200 grams of CO₂ emissions: 50 percent surcharge on traffic taxes
Traffic charges are calculated according to performance.
Glarus
Vehicle category A: no traffic tax in the first 3 years
Vehicle category B: only 25 percent of the traffic tax in the first 3 years
Vehicle categories F and G: 20 percent and 30 percent surcharge
respectively Vehicles with purely electric drive without engine capacity: no tax
Traffic charges are calculated according to engine capacity.
Graubünden
Up to 95 grams of CO₂ emissions: 80 percent discount
Up to 110 grams of CO₂ emissions: 60 percent discount
Traffic taxes are calculated according to engine capacity (in the case of electric cars by weight).
Law
Discount of 50 percent on hybrid, gas or electric motor vehicles.
Traffic taxes are calculated by weight.
Lucerne
Discount of 20 percent for vehicles with alternative drives.
Traffic charges are calculated according to so-called tax horsepower, which depend on engine capacity. In the case of electric cars, the engine power serves as the basis for calculation.
Neuchâtel
Motor vehicle tax is made up of a fixed and variable part. The variable part takes into account the age of the car and CO₂ emissions. This regulation only applies to passenger cars, for other vehicles the traffic charges are calculated by weight.
Nidwalden
Vehicle category A: no traffic tax in the first 3 years
Hybrid drive: 50 percent discount on tax
Gas or electric drive: 75 percent discount on tax
Traffic charges are calculated according to engine capacity, in the case of electric cars according to vehicle weight.
Obwalden
70 percent discount for vehicles with gas or electric motors
50 percent discount for hybrid vehicles
25 percent for gasoline and diesel vehicles in energy efficiency category A
Schaffhausen
Discounts only for electric cars with engine power of less than 30 kilowatts: annual flat rate of 120 francs
Traffic charges are calculated according to engine capacity.
Schwyz
No discounts – traffic taxes are calculated by weight.
Solothurn
No traffic charges for electric vehicles.
Traffic charges are calculated according to engine capacity.
St. Gallen
Electric cars: no taxes in the first 4 years after placing on the market and 50 percent discount in the years thereafter
Energy efficiency category A with less than 130 grams of CO₂ emissions for gasoline, diesel or hybrid vehicles and 143 grams for gas drives: no taxes in the first 4 years after marketing
Traffic charges are calculated according to total weight.
Thurgau
Electric cars: Lump-sum taxation of 96 francs per vehicle.
In addition, there is an environmental bonus for all vehicles according to category:
- Energy efficiency category A: 50 percent discount during the first 5 years
- Energy efficiency category B: 25 percent discount during the first 5 years
- Energy efficiency categories F and G: surcharge of 50 percent
Traffic charges are calculated according to engine capacity.
Ticino
50 percent discount for hybrid vehicles
25 percent discount for vehicles with gas drive
Traffic taxes are calculated according to total weight, CO₂ emissions and engine power.
Uri
Battery-powered cars only have to pay two-thirds.
Traffic charges are calculated according to total weight.
Vaud
75 percent discount for cars with CO₂ emissions of less than 120 grams or gas drive.
Traffic tax for electric cars is a flat rate of 25 francs per year.
Traffic taxes are calculated according to weight and power.
Valais
No discounts – traffic taxes are calculated according to engine capacity – for electric cars according to engine power.
Zurich
80 percent discount for category A with CO₂ emissions up to a maximum of 130 grams
50 percent discount for category B with CO₂ emissions up to a maximum of 130 grams
Motor vehicle tax is completely waived for electric cars.
Traffic charges are calculated according to total weight and engine capacity.
Train
50 percent environmental bonus on normal tax for electric cars.
Traffic taxes are calculated according to engine capacity – in the case of electric cars according to vehicle weight.
A look into the future: What will happen next with the subsidies for electric cars?
If we look at the current subsidies in the field of electromobility, we see that the state and the individual cantons have an interest in promoting these alternative drives and favouring them over lower energy efficiency classes. As a buyer, you can certainly benefit from this. However, subsidies for electromobility also cost the state and canton a lot of money. In 2022, direct subsidies were cancelled in many places. It is therefore unclear in what form existing subsidies for electric cars will be made in the future.
So don't just rely on the subsidies. It is also important to consider other financial aspects of electric vehicles. For example, you can save on insurance, maintenance costs or consumption with your electric car.