The aid faucet for purchasing an electric car remains open

The automotive industry and the government have renewed their vows of commitment to the energy transition.

By 2035, all new cars will need to be electric. Whether one thinks this is possible or not, it is the common European goal. While some adopt a wait-and-see approach of “we’ll see what happens in 10 years,” we cannot fault France for lacking ambition. In the next three years, the government will intensify its support for the transition to electric vehicles with a target of 800,000 sales by 2027, in accordance with the sector contract co-signed today by the automotive industry and the government.

Therefore, it is planned to triple sales in four years to ultimately reach 45% of the market. For context, in 2023 manufacturers sold 300,000 electric cars, greatly benefiting from the Social Electric Leasing scheme, which, due to its success, was suspended after a few weeks.

The authorities are therefore committed to “strengthening support measures for the purchase and long-term rental of new zero-emission vehicles.” This certainly includes the reactivation of Electric Leasing but also the continuation of the Ecological Bonus. However, it will likely be necessary to adjust the amount of these generous subsidies, as the €1.5 billion budget allocated to these schemes in 2023 will not be increased in 2024. Support for the used electric vehicle market is also mentioned, although details are still sparse for the moment.

But more electric cars also mean greater recharging needs. The state has confirmed its goal of 400,000 charging points by 2030 to support this lovely fleet. Moreover, half of condominiums must be equipped with charging stations by the end of 2027. This will involve mandatory installations in new parking lots and the continuation of tax credits for existing ones.

So, is it absolute optimism or fierce determination? Time will be the only judge.