Three French government ministers recently confirmed at the launch of a Hirtzman commission on the development of EV charging infrastructure in the country that the bonus of €7,000 (US$9,138) available hitherto to French electric vehicle buyers would still be available in 2013. The government has also confirmed, reported the French EV promotion association Avere, writing in the e-newsletter of Le Journal de l’Automobile on 17 October, that the bonus will be available not only to private buyers as before, but also extended to companies and local authority EV buyers.
The government also said it would provide an example to other buyers by electrifying 25% of the government’s vehicle fleet in the coming years.
Industrial recovery minister Arnaud Montebourg has confirmed a budget of €50m to finance EV infrastructure in towns with more than 200,000 inhabitants.
Minister Delphine Batho has indicated that the French government would like to introduce preferential tariffs for EV drivers on motorway tolls and in public car parks. All these initiatives are expected to be launched before the calendar year-end. The limited range of EVs has suggested to some observers reported by Le Journal de l’Automobile that a motorway toll discount would not cost taxpayers a significant sum.
