In the game of 100,000 terminals, France is on the verge of winning. This objective had been set for 2023 in the multi-annual energy program (PPE), before the executive sought, without success, to advance it by one year. According to the monthly barometer of the National Association for the Development of Electric Mobility (Avere) and the Ministry of Energy Transition, nearly 5,000 new terminals – or rather charging points (one terminal can have several) – open to public were installed in France during March. This brings their number to 95,755.
The progression, in twelve months, reached 66%. A welcome acceleration, as Europe has just definitively adopted its regulation prohibiting the sale of new thermal vehicles in 2035 (1).
14% fast or ultra-fast terminals
Beyond the number of terminals, other parameters deserve to be scrutinized. In particular their power: the proportion of fast charging sockets (above 22 kWh), which for some can recover 80% autonomy in less than half an hour, is gradually increasing and now stands at 14%.
Another point of attention: the recurrence of breakdowns or maintenance operations which, in the eyes of users, too often makes them unusable. What is it really ? The average availability rate is included, depending on the power of the terminals, between 78% and 86%, indicates the barometer.
But what stands out the most are the regional disparities. While there are on average 142 charging points per 100,000 inhabitants, the figures vary greatly depending on the territory. Corsica totals less than 600 points, against more than 17,400 for Île-de-France, whose area is however only greater than a third.
Avoid a “white areas” effect
“We should not end up with a phenomenon of white zones similar to the one we have seen in telecoms”, warns François Gatineau, president of Mobileese, a consulting firm and design office in electric mobility. Hence the importance in his eyes of the master plans that the territories are invited to draw up. “An approach that allows them to benefit until 2025 from coverage of up to 75% of the connection costs of charging facilities. »
But the analogy with the state of telephone networks or the Internet lacks relevance, nuance Clément Molizon, general delegate of Avere-France. “The areas with the fewest charging points open to the public are often those where people live the most in single-family homes or in buildings with a garage, i.e. where the installation of an individual terminal is easier. »
The issue of autonomy
According to the electricity network operator Enedis, the total number of charging points – open to the public, but also and above all installed by individuals – exceeded one million as of last June. In addition, continues the delegate general, “The urban centres, which are the best equipped, are also those where there are the most taxis, VTCs, logistics players who may need to be recharged during the day. »
Today, many manufacturers, installers, operators – subsidiaries of large groups (TotalEnergies, Engie) or start-ups – are crowding into this market. And Clément Molizon disputes the frequently heard assertion that the lack of charging stations is an obstacle to the electrification of the vehicle fleet. Instead, he invokes what the Anglo-Saxons call the range anxiety, the fear of not having enough electricity to reach your destination without difficulty. Because many electric cars only have a range of a few hundred kilometers.
All service areas equipped by summer
This reflex also leads a good part of those who opt for electric to choose larger models, equipped with more powerful batteries, even if they only travel long distances once a year, during summer holidays. .
In this case, the installation of fast or even ultra-fast charging stations on motorways is perhaps likely to reassure motorists. By the summer, all of the service areas on the concession network should be equipped with them.
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Installation of charging stations open to the public
Charging points open to the public are, at 22%, installed on the road. The others are located in public car parks (34%) or in retail car parks (39%).
A car park with more than 10 spaces adjoining new non-residential buildings must equip 20% of them with charging stations. By 2025, car parks in old non-residential buildings will have to have one charging point for every twenty spaces.
Payment can be made on a fee-for-service basis or by subscription. The prices are free. Some municipalities, companies or shopping centers offer a free share.