“This is a historic plan to confront a historic situation.” Those are the words of French President Emmanuel Macron on the day he announced an €8 billion rescue plan for France’s auto industry. The country is pushing forward ambitious plans to have over 100,000 public charging points next year and produce 1 million EVs annually by 2025. To further aid EV sales, €1.3 billion has been earmarked for incentives. And it’s working! As residents can now get up to €19.000 in subsidies, EV sales have taken off ever since. Here’s a rundown of those initiatives:
???? EV Incentives in France
National EV Incentives
There are currently two main EV incentives available in France: the Ecological Bonus and the Conversion Bonus. By combining the ecological bonus and conversion program, you can receive up to €19,000 (depending on the region) for the purchase of your EV. Most of the following national incentives are a part of the ecological bonus:
Subsidies
Ecological bonus (Purchase grant): The following incentives apply from 1 June 2020 to 31 December 2020:
Bonus for car/van emitting 20g CO2/km or less, relative to price:
Under €45,000: up to €7,000 (27% of the acquisition cost including tax) for private individuals; up to €5,000 for businesses
Between €45,000 & €60,000: €3,000
More than €60,000: €3,000 (applies only to hydrogen & light utility vehicles)
Bonus for car/van emitting between 21g – 50g CO2/km:
Only for plug-in hybrids, price capped at €50,000 with a range of over 50km: €2,000
Bonus for 2 wheels, 3 wheels and motor quadcycle, relative to max net power of vehicle engine:
Power between 2-3 kW: €250 per kWh of power, or as a flat fee: €900
Power less than 2kW: fixed at 20% of acquisition cost including tax, within limit of €100
Bonus for electrically assisted bicycle:
Up to €200
For more information on the conditions of each EV, click here. To apply for the grant, click here.
Conversion bonus (scrappage scheme): The following incentives apply from 3 August 2020 valid until 31 December 2020):
Subsidy for the purchase of second hand or new BEVs and PHEVs if you scrap your diesel car (older than 2011) or gasoline car (older than 2006):
<€13.489 income: up to €5.000 (capped at 80% of the purchase price of the new EV); the maximum combined incentive amount you get from the conversion bonus and eco bonus is €12.000
>€13.489 income: up to €2.500; the maximum combined incentive amount you get from the conversion bonus and eco bonus is €9.500
For more information, click here. To apply for the grant, click here.
€1,000 subsidy for the purchase of an EV if you live or work in a low emission zone and have received a similar incentive from your local authority
Tax Benefits
Registration tax:
Both fully-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are eligible for either a 50% discount or are fully exempt from paying the license plate registration (carte grise) in Metropolitan France depending on the region.
Company car tax (taxe sur les véhicules des sociétés; TVS):
It’s worth checking out your regional incentives, as some may offer extra subsidies. For more information on your local EV incentives, a quick internet search of “EV incitations + [nom de votre région]” (“EV incentives + [name of your area]” ) should point you in the right direction. Most regions will allow you to apply online, via their Aid Portal or region’s government website.
Here are some examples:
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – Arve Valley:
Purchase subsidy (Acquisition de Vehicules): support based on GVWR (Total Authorized Weight in Charge):
GVW <2.5 T:
CNG vehicle: €3,000
Electric vehicle: €3,000
Hydrogen vehicle: €12,000
2.5t <PTAC <or = 3.5 t:
NGV vehicle: €5,000
Electric vehicle: €5,000
Hydrogen vehicle: €12,000
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Bouches-du-Rhône:
Purchase subsidy
€5,000
The subsidy is paid directly to the buyer in the month following the filing of the request
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté:
Purchase subsidy for car-sharing:
Local authorities and their groups, cooperatives, user or resident associations or companies wishing to set up a car-sharing service:
50% of the purchase cost excluding tax (other aid deducted) from the vehicle up to a limit of €15,000.
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Drancy:
Purchase & rental subsidy
Purchase of new PEV:
€1,500
Rental with option to buy:
€750
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Grenoble:
Purchase subsidy for companies with fewer than 250 employees:
Buying a BEV utility vehicle/truck:
€2,400 – €12,000 for a new purchase
€3,000 – €15,000 for a new purchase and scrappage of polluting vehicle
Buying a Hydrogen utility vehicle/truck:
€4,000 for a new purchase
€5,000 for a new purchase and scrappage of polluting vehicle
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Île-de-France:
Subsidy for small businesses & heavy goods vehicles:
SME & VSE with fewer than 50 employees or turnover less than €10 million:
€6,000
Electric or Hydrogen heavy good vehicles with GVW >3.5 T:
€9,000
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Lyon:
Purchase subsidies:
BEV:
Heavy vehicle GVW> 3,5 T: €10,000
Light commercial vehicle: €5,000
Hydrogen:
Heavy vehicle GVW> 3,5 T: €13,000
Light commercial vehicle: €8,000
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Metropolis of Greater Paris:
Purchase subsidies:
EV:
Up to €6,000
Electric 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler or quadricycle:
Up to €1,400
Electrically Assisted Bicycle (VAE):
Up to € 500
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Metropolis Nice Côte d’Azur:
Purchase subsidy
Buying fully electric vehicle in mainland France, benchmark tax income <€45,000:
€2,000
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Normandy:
Purchase subsidy for individuals, micro-enterprises & associations:
EV Charging Incentives for Businesses & Condominiums
National Subsidies
The ADVENIR program, dedicated to rolling out EV charging infrastructure across France, has been extended and now covers the costs of supply and installation of charging points for companies and residential collectives:
Subsidies for companies:
Up to 40% of the purchase and installation costs of EV charging points
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Subsidies for condos:
Up to 50% of the purchase and installation costs of charging points at condominiums (apartment blocks)
The aim is to have chargers installed at 3,000 condominiums by 2022.
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Subsidies for EV charging in condos, car parks and taxis:
Subsidies for condos:
50% of cost excluding tax, up to a limit of €500 per charging point and 4 points for chargers installed for residents and visitors
Subsidies for car parks:
50% of the amount excluding tax up to a limit of €4,000 for the electrical pre-equipment of a car park
EV Charging Incentives for Public Entities
The ADVENIR program offers incentives to support the development of public charging stations:
Subsidies for municipalities:
Up to €2,160 per charging point installed at the request of EV users within a radius of 500 meters of their place of residence or work.
For more information and how to apply, click here.
France doubles down on EV investment with some of the largest grants in Europe
It’s an encouraging sign to see France reaffirm its commitment to green initiatives, especially as it rebuilds the economy amidst the pandemic. The country is serious about accelerating the switch from combustion engine cars to electric vehicles, offering some of the most generous EV incentives in Europe.
To find out more about EV and EV charging incentives in other European countries and how they compare to the French subsidies, read our complete EU EV incentives guide.
