your charging station
Charging stations in France: where do we stand?
In France, the boom in electric vehicles is palpable, and is reflected in the growing number of charging stations available.
On April 30, 2023, France counted 99,404 charging points accessible to the general public for around 1.2 million electric or plug-in hybrid vehicless, marking a 66% increase in one year. Currently, there are 148 charging points for every 100,000 inhabitants. Avere-France also reports the installation and connection of 17,000 charging points connected to the public grid..
France now surpasses Germany in terms of charging points, ranking 2ᵉ in the European Union after the Netherlands. The validation of the European AFIR regulation opens up new prospects for recharging, with targets largely met in France.
To illustrate what I mean, this regulation requires :
- 1.3 kW per electric vehicle (compared with 4 kW per vehicle in France),
- fast-charging stations every 60 km along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) by 2025 (which our freeways have been able to do since summer 2023).
Progress is indeed encouraging. However, there is still some way to go to meet the growing needs of clean vehicle drivers.
Number of charging points in France
Reaching the threshold of 100,000 charging points accessible to the general public since May 5, 2023we can see that the electric mobility ecosystem is proving dynamic. According to Avere France, since January 2023, over 17,000 charging points have been integrated into the public distribution network, representing ⅔ of last year's installations.
Despite this 2020 target, the achievement of this milestone confirms the strength of deployment, even outstripping the forecast growth in the electric vehicle fleet up to 2035. It also underlines the importance of optimizing user satisfaction and integrating new uses for greener mobility. Indeed, in 2020, the French Government set this target (now a necessity) for the end of 2021 to stimulate momentum and encourage all players to move over to the green side of the force. And this incentive worked: in contrast to the annual average of 4,000 charging points, over 20,000 installations took place in 2021, testifying to the commitment of all players.
With this in mind, it is essential to adapt charging power to the location and needs of users. Growth is particularly marked for very high-power charging points. These have now exceeded 270% in one year, reaching almost 7,000 charging points of 150 kW (and more), crucial along expressways and freeways for long journeys.
In short, by October 31, 2023, more than 111,209 charging points were open to the publicThis represents an increase of over 47% and an average availability rate of 83%.
Did you know?: Of the more than 111,000 charging stations in France, 84% offer a charging capacity of less than 22 kW, with 51% between 7.4 and 22 kW.
Distribution of charging solutions in France
Despite the deployment of recharging solutions across the country, the number of charging stations remains insufficient for motorists, and the lack of a strategy for installing them across the country continues to persist, depending on the region. What's more, 39% of them suffer regular breakdowns.
As a result, here's the breakdown of charging stations by region (data updated to October 31, 2023).
| METROPOLITAN AREAS | NUMBER OF RECHARGING POINTS |
|---|---|
|
Hauts-de-France
|
9 857
|
|
Normandy
|
6 114
|
|
Great East
|
10 413
|
|
Brittany
|
4 566
|
|
Île-de-France
|
19 392
|
|
Pays de la Loire
|
5 332
|
|
Centre-Val de Loire
|
4 603
|
|
Burgundy-Franche-Comté
|
4 490
|
|
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
|
10 407
|
|
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
|
13 042
|
|
Occitanie
|
10 597
|
|
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
|
9 690
|
|
Corsica
|
788
|
Here, on the other hand, is a summary table by overseas region:
| OVERSEAS REGIONS | NUMBER OF RECHARGING POINTS |
|---|---|
|
Guadeloupe
|
120 |
|
Martinique
|
152 |
|
French Guiana
|
39 |
|
Reunion Island
|
256 |
For a more precise breakdown, here's a breakdown of charging points by location:
Source : Avere France
Black spots linked to charging stations
Despite these promising figures, it's not just the uneven distribution that's holding motorists back from eco-friendly cars. In fact, the points that work against the ecological transition are the significant price differences between different charging stationsbut also the but also the lack of clarity prices.
On the one hand, when we park at a charging station, no price is displayed like at a gas station.
On the other hand, the consumers' association has noted rate differences up to 800% on the same charge point! ! It should be noted that each operator has its own pricing formula and varies according to a number of factors:
- price per kWh,
- the price of parking,
- fixed operator costs,
- costs per minute.
These issues raise major challenges if we are to encourage as many individuals and businesses as possible to opt for green mobility.
What's the next target?
In addition to quantitative growth and the acceleration of installations (particularly in DC charging), guaranteeing a positive user experience remains paramount:
- service quality,
- ease of use,
- attractiveness,
- maintenance,
- rates.
On freeways, these elements are of particular importance, with all service areas to be equipped with with fast and ultra-fast recharging points by the end of the year, encouraging long-distance journeys in electric vehicles.
Good to know At the launch of the Mondial de l'Auto 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron chose an intermediate plan from the study conducted by Avere-France, envisaging the installation of400,000 public charging stations by 2030.. This study indicated the need to install between 330,000 and 480,000 publicly accessible charging points for light vehicles by 2030.
Indeed, user experience is an element that needs to be considered now, and even more so in the future. What's more, we need to take into account the new demands and needs of users. As a result, we need to be able to accommodate future electric vehicles on the road and anticipate installation times, while integrating new uses, such as heavy mobility. The current international context is leading truck manufacturers to turn to battery-powered electric solutions in the first instance, with hydrogen as a complement. This will not only mean electrifying depots, but also thinking about roaming, to encourage and promote the electrification of company fleets.
To find out more about corporate fleets, we invite you to read our article on the subject:
Electric vehicle fleet: the complete guide
and
2024 grants for the installation of charging stations
As previously stated, France has finally reached its target of 100,000 public charging stations this spring 2023. However, this symbolic threshold remains insufficient for the government.
A new terminal plan "was launched by the French government in October 2023, releasing 200 million euros to facilitate the installation of recharging points on roads, as well as in private homes.
With this new funding, what kind of support can you expect to receive in 2024?
For private customers
A number of grants are available to private individuals for the purchase and installation of a charging station in 2024, with a few changes compared to 2023. Here they are.
Tax credit
Originally, owners of electric vehicles were eligible for the tax creditOriginally, owners of electric vehicles were eligible for the tax credit, which allowed them to benefit from 75% of the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging station. This credit was applicable for work carried out between January 1ᵉʳ, 2021 and December 31, 2023. It was also limited to €300 per terminal and per household, with no income requirement to qualify.
However, the good news is that from 2024, this aid will rise from €300 to €500. No more excuses for not buying a home charging station!
Reduced VAT for individuals
In fact, you can benefit from reduced VAT rate of 5.5 for the installation of a charging station, provided it complies with standard NF C 15-100 (detailing safety standards for low-voltage electrical installations).
At Beevwe offer you the best terminals, with assistance in obtaining them, and rapid installation in 10 working days. Don't hesitate to contact our experts !
For professionals
For professionals, on the other hand, assistance is rarer than for private individuals. Although the Advenir program has evolved, it is still only available to one category of professionals.
You can also read this article: What changes will there be in 2023 to support the installation of terminals in businesses?
Advenir program
Avere-France oversees the Advenir program, financing charging stations via the French Ministry of Ecological Transition's energy-saving certificates and in collaboration with ADEME. This is in addition to public actions supporting electric mobility.
From now on, the Advenir subsidy will offer 2 types of premiums exclusively for automotive service professionals.
| TYPE OF BENEFICIARY | RATE IN % OF AID GRANTED | CEILING EXCL. TAX PER RECHARGING POINT |
|---|---|---|
|
Fleet and employees |
25% |
750 € |
|
Private parking lot open to the public
|
50% |
from €1,700 to €7,500
|
Please note Eligibility for the Advenir bonus is determined upstream by the APE code of the beneficiary companies (such as 45.11Z, 45.32Z or 71.20A).
Once you've tested your eligibility, all you have to do is find an IRVE-certified installer to carry out the installation at your home or workplace. In fact, since the decree issued on January 12, 2017, having recourse to this type of installer is a must for charging stations with a power rating of 3.7 kW.
Calling in such a professional guarantees an installation that complies with the NF C 15-100 electrical standard, ensuring quality, safety and compliance with standards.
For more information, see our article on certifications and deadlines for installing a charging station on your premises may be of interest to you.
Conclusion
France has made considerable progress in deploying charging stations for electric vehicles. However, there is still some way to go to meet the growing needs of drivers. Public authorities and private players must continue to invest in the development of a reliable charging network accessible to all.
On the one hand, the transition to electric mobility is an opportunity for companies to move towards greener mobility, or to develop new products and services. Businesses can get involved in the deployment of charging stations on their sites, the supply of renewable energy and the design of intelligent charging solutions.
On the other hand, private individuals can contribute to the transition to electric mobility by choosing an electric vehicle and finding out about available recharging solutions. They can also install a charging station at home or use public charging stations.
