Lithuania is extending a scheme which allows people to trade in their old cars for e-bikes after paying out 95 per cent of the €8m originally allocated in May. A further €3m is being made available as the country looks to persuade a shift to more sustainable forms of transport.

Lithuania’s Environmental Project Management Agency (APVA) is offering €1,000 for old cars if people invest the money in e-bikes, e-scooters or even just an ordinary bike.

The Next Web even suggests that it’s possible to get the full amount for old cars that aren’t even worth that much.

“The initiative received a lot of attention from the population,” said Austėja Jonaitytė, a spokesperson for the APVA. “The number of applications exceeded all expectations. For this reason, the Environment Ministry has allocated an additional three million euros from the Climate Change Program.”

So far most of the money has gone towards e-scooters. Lithuanian National Radio and Television unfortunately doesn’t give an exact breakdown, but e-scooters and conventional bikes accounted for €4.95m, with €269,000 being spent on e-bikes.

The Environment Ministry may well extend the programme into next year said a spokesperson.

“Experts of the Climate Change Programme will approve next year’s budget and they will decide whether a measure like this is beneficial.”