Is a greater weight penalty applied to hybrid and electric vehicles?

A few weeks ago, the idea of kilometer-based taxation was in people’s minds, but today the situation has changed, and it would be a reduction in weight.

In 2024, the rules for the environmental penalty will change, with the finance bill. Among them, there will be a decrease in the weight-based penalty, which will also apply to hybrid or electric vehicles according to Les Echos.

CO2-related tax will be lowered

What does it entail? For several years now, this tax has been in place in France. Any vehicle with a CO2 emission above the legal limit has a penalty. Currently, this penalty starts at 123 g/km. Next year, it will be 118 g/km, as it decreases by 5 points each year.

A weight-based penalty also reduced to 1.6 tons

Today, the weight-based penalty targets polluting vehicles over 1.8 tons. However, according to information from Les Echos, the rules are expected to change and be lowered to 1.6 tons. The government had also considered lowering the limit even further to 1.5 tons, but this would have impacted cars from French manufacturers, such as Peugeot with its 5008 model, which weighs 1.54 tons, or the new Renault Kangoo, ranging between 1.59 tons and 1.68 tons. As a reminder, the penalty is 10 euros for each kilogram above the legal weight. For example, for a vehicle weighing 1850 kg, the driver must pay an extra 500 euros.

Hybrid and electric SUVs also in the sights

Currently, “clean” vehicles are exempt from this penalty, but this won’t be the case for long. According to Les Echos, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles will not be affected by the new law in 2024, but they will be in 2025, with the new finance law to be presented at the end of next year. Be careful, only large vehicles will be impacted by this law, similar to thermal vehicles.

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