Free recharging points: public car parks
Let's start with the most obvious: public car parks.More and more public car parks are installing charging stations for electric cars. One of the reasons for this is that the French National Assembly has voted to make it compulsory for public car parks to provide users with charging points by 2021. An amendment specifies that these charging points will have to be installed in public car parks, at least one charging point for twenty pitches.
These charging points are often provided free of charge. All you have to do is plug in, and your car will be recharged for free! This is especially the case if your local authority promotes ecology and takes action in this direction. Ultimately, it's a way of attracting eco-responsible customers while supporting the ecological transition. This is particularly the case in cities such as Paris, Nantes and Bordeaux.
Car manufacturers and dealers
Most car manufacturers have extended their ranges to include electric vehicles. So they are offering more and more of them in their dealerships. That's why you'll find charging stations free of charge. However, these charging stations are only available to customers of these manufacturers.
But some manufacturers offer a different formula. Such is the case with Kia which gives its customers access to a network of 21,000 recharging stations in France. This free access is available for the first 12 months following the purchase of an electric vehicle from the South Korean brand.
For owners of a vehicle in the Volkswagenyou'll be at an advantage! Your purchase will allow you to recharge your vehicle at one of the charging points available at the dealerships of the group's nine brands. Brands such as Hyundai, BMW, Nissan or even Citroën also offer recharging to their customers at one of their dealerships.
Supermarkets and hypermarkets
A large number of supermarket and supermarket chains offer their customers charging stations free of charge! They do this above all to attract new customers, build loyalty and stand out from the competition. Most of these chains have also signed up to the 100,000 kiosks target..
Alongside this objective, the government has introduced a number of measures to support the installation of charging stations for professionals to fill its quotas as quickly as possible.For professionals, there is ADVENIR and theThe installation of recharging points for private individualsis the tax credit for charging points.
Numerous groups have joined forces with the government to accomplish this mission. These include a number of major retailers. These are :
Leclerc
Since 2011, Leclercis encouraging the use of electric vehicles by installing terminals recharge in their supermarket car parks. According to the group, there are now over 170 centres which are equipped with charging stations free of charge. The brand is going even further by equipping its staff with electric vehicles and offering to hire these vehicles to their customers.
Lidl
The German firm has deployed more than 1,000 charge points in Europe with more than half in France alone! The aim is to enable their customers to recharge their batteries while they're out shopping.
Système U
This player in the mass retail and petrol station networks has taken action to install charging stations. There are currently more than 50 charging points in U shop car parks and charging stations in some of the group's 800 petrol stations.
We have mentioned the groups that are part of this agreement for the 100,000 km target, but there are also other companies that are not signatories, but are participating just as much in the general effort.
Other retailers installing free charging stations
Carrefour
In a press release dated 10 March 2021, Carrefour claims to be "the first retailer to offer a complete range of charging points for electric vehicles".. The French supermarket giant has announced its intention to deploy more 2,000 recharging points by 2023 Thanks to their partnership with Meridiam, the Carrefour Group is now revising its ambitions upwards with the implementation of a number of new projects. 5,000 recharging points by 2025. Meridiam is a company specialising in the development and financing of public infrastructure projects. The group adds that these terminals will be powered by green energy so as not to do things by halves.
The offer will range from charging point from 22 kW to 350 kW to meet the needs of all users.
Ikea
As part of the development of its "environmentally friendly and practical" services, Ikea has installed free charging points for its customers' electric vehicles. Ikea deploys charging stations providing power ranging from 43 kW to 50 kW in its shop car parks. The company has decided to invest in 7 kWh chargers, enabling maximum charging in one hour. 5 % of the visitor spaces will therefore be fitted with charging stations by 2025, i.e. between 20 and 50 kiosks per shop.
Leroy Merlin
Like Ikea, Leroy Merlin provides its customers with a range of charging stations free of charge in its car parks. These terminals range from simple plugs producing 3.7 kW to terminals providing 22 kW of power.
Would you like to install a recharging point?
Close to stations and airports
When you're preparing to travel long distances by train or plane, you may be travelling by car. Stations and airports have thought of this! You can you recharge free of charge in the Orly car park for example, or the Toulouse Blagnac. As far as train stations are concerned, you can simply recharge at the stations near Saint Lazare station in Paris or Gare Montparnasse.
Hotel and restaurant car parks
Even though most hotel and restaurant car parks provide their customers with charging stations which are paid for, some can be free. There's nothing better for referencing and building customer loyalty. The idea for restaurants is that you can recharge your vehicle while you eat your meal. This adds significant value to the service.
Finally, the charging stations are profitable investments for hotels, whatever their business strategy. They can lead to an increase in clientele or sales for the establishment.
Free charging points: how can you find them for sure?
To avoid the slightest inconvenience in finding a recharging point when you're out and about by car electric vehiclewe recommend that you use an application that references the charging stations. Easy Charging Quality for example, reveals all the charging stations and offers a host of other features to make your day-to-day life easier. The application lets you check the tariffs and lets you know if they're busy! You can also check your recharging sessions.
In conclusion
This is excellent news for users of electric vehicles, as a range of charging solutions has been accumulating in France in recent years to support the acceleration of ecomobility across the country. These solutions have been made possible thanks to various agreements between the French government and some of the biggest groups operating in France.
In addition to the retail signatories mentioned above, many other shareholders are contributing to the development of ecomobility throughout the country.
If you would like to find out more aboutsupport for the installation of charging points for private customers in 2024For more information, see our article on this subject.
