2023-10-27 09:03:22
The transition to electric cars in France will only require the development of a significant infrastructure of charging stations, although this remains, today, one of the main obstacles along with the price for the purchase of these vehicles. Even if in four years, the number of terminals has quadrupled to reach 110,000 charging points, this figure is largely insufficient.
If a boost has been given in recent months, since the start of the year, 25,830 new charging stations have been launched in France, according to the Avere association, the objective to be achieved of around 400 000 terminals by 2030 is still a long way off. Especially since only 10% of French terminals are fast-charging, mainly on motorway service areas, even though these devices are considered essential to convince motorists to give up the thermal engine. Another blocking point is recharging in private car parks, which are largely lacking.
“Arrival of social leasing for the middle classes”
Under these conditions, the Minister of Transport with the Minister of Ecological Transition who are meeting today with stakeholders in the automotive sector wants to move up a “higher gear”. With a series of new measures announced by Clément Beaune, the Minister of Transport: “200 million additional euros to accelerate the deployment of terminals, strengthening of the ecological bonus for the most modest, arrival of social leasing for the middle classes, simplification of the retrofit,” he has already summarized.
The new envelope of 200 million should make it possible to “support the development of fast charging terminals” and the installation in “three specific areas: collective residential, on-road terminals, and recharging for heavy goods vehicles”, specifies. we hear from the office of the Ministry of Transport.
Lidl places itself on the individual charging station
In addition, the tax credit for installing a home terminal must increase from 300 to 500 euros, it is added. And already, certain players are seeking to enter this market, including the Lidl distribution brand. After having equipped some of its brands with fast charging stations open to the public (six in France), Lidl is preparing to sell its Wallbox for electric vehicles online at “a low price”. In December 2022, Lidl caused a sensation by putting a charging Wallbox for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on sale for the first time.
Available on its German e-commerce site, the French automotive press was already considering the arrival of these products on the French market. It is now done, since the discount brand announces the sale of a charging Wallbox, available in two powers, on sale online in France from November 13th between 349 euros and 499 euros depending on the power. In detail, the wall charging station is designed for “easy installation at home” indoors or outdoors. However, Lidl still recommends calling on “a specialized electrician” for installation.
Purchasing assistance
But the government also knows that users of thermal cars will only give up their vehicles if the purchase of an electric vehicle becomes more accessible. Thus, the ecological bonus granted to the most modest to buy an electric vehicle, currently 7,000 euros, should be “revalued” but “this figure has not yet been arbitrated”, according to the minister’s office. Furthermore, the decrees setting the rules for the social leasing system, allowing the most modest to access electricity for 100 euros per month, “will be published in the very next few days”, continues the cabinet. “By combining ecological bonus and leasing aid, “the idea is to have very significant aid from the State for the first rent”, we specify.
Other measures are planned, including a tax advantage for companies to modify the engine of a thermal vehicle with electric or hydrogen, known as “retrofit”.
#Electric #cars #extension #million #euros #accelerate #deployment #electric #terminals