Electric vehicle fleet: aid for SMEs, craftsmen and self-employed professionals

March 22, 2024
Electric cars

With the LOM law (Mobility Orientation Law)companies are required to electrify their vehicle fleets. According to the latest feedback fromAvere-Franceregistrations of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are rising sharply, with 41.5% in January 2023 compared with 2022 and 19.5% market share.

A number of grants have been set up to provide financial support and reduce the costs associated with fleet renewal. But what about SMEs, craftsmen and the self-employed? Is there any specific assistance for them? We tell you all about it.

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Electric vehicle fleet: assistance for SMEs, craftsmen and the self-employed

At national and European level, a number of objectives have been set, including :

To achieve this, companies need financial assistance to help and encourage them to decarbonize their vehicle fleets.

Energy transition: government aid for businesses

A number of financial incentives have been introduced to help SMEs, craftsmen and self-employed professionals renew their vehicle fleets:

Benefits in kind
Conversion bonus The aim of this bonus is to help motorists (private individuals and professionals) finance their electric vehicle by scrapping their old one. The bonus varies according to the buyer's income. There is also a ZFE-m bonus bonus, in addition to the conversion bonus. This additional bonus is awarded to anyone living and/or working in a ZFE-m (Low Emission Mobility Zone). This means they can benefit from €1,000.

As a reminder, here are the current m-FTAs:

Greater Paris
Lyon
Aix Marseille
Toulouse
Nice
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Grenoble
Rouen
Reims
Saint-Etienne

What's more, by 2025, 43 other conurbations with populations of over 150,000 will be introducing a ZFE-m.

For more information : Low-emission mobility zones (ZFE-m): 11 cities to be covered by 2022

Good to know: as of January 2023, it is no longer necessary for the local authority to grant assistance in order to qualify for the additional premium.

Electric vehicle fleet: tax benefits

Apart from the certainty of electrifying your fleet, opting for electric vehicles offers other advantages for professionals. Here we're talking about tax advantages.

Tax benefits: no tax exemption for electric vehicles

Did you know that when you choose an electric vehicle, you are not exempt from company car tax?

As a reminder, a company established on French soil, with vehicles at its disposal, must pay what is known as the "taxe des véhicules de sociétés" (TVS) every year.

As of January 1, 2023, the TVS has changed. It is now replaced by 2 new taxes:

Annual tax on CO2 emissions
Annual tax on emissions of atmospheric pollutants

Apart from the change in this tax, payment conditions remain the same.

How much is the tax?

To find out the amount of the TVS, it is estimated every quarter:

The number of vehicles in your fleet
Number of vehicles in use on the 1st day of each quarter
Vehicles leased for more than 30 days during the quarter (e.g. long-term leasing)

As electric vehicles emit little or no carbon dioxide (CO2), the annual tax on CO2 emissions is €0.

Find out more : company vehicle tax (TVS).

Electric cars: exemption from registration fees

Another advantage is the non-exempt card for electric vehicles. Regardless of where you live, the registration document for your electric vehicle is 100% exempt from regional tax. What's more, these vehicles are not affected by the weight and ecological malus.

Find out more : Vehicle registration for your electric car

Prêt à taux zéro (PTZ): loan applicable to businesses since 2023

Back in 2022, the French government introduced a zero-interest loan for electric vehicles. This has been in the experimental phase since January 1, 2023, for a period of 2 years.

This zero-interest loan is aimed at residents and micro-businesses domiciled in the ZFE-m and adjacent intercommunal areas.

Bonus: Tax reduction

In addition to electrifying your car fleet, you can set up a fleet of free bicycles for your employees. By doing so, you'll benefit from a tax reduction.

This tax reduction is valid until December 31, 2024. You can purchase this fleet of bicycles in cash, or lease them. In the latter case the tax reduction is subject to the lease contract being signed for a minimum of 3 years.

Here are the conditions for this discount:

Your company must be registered for corporation tax (IS). So whether you're a craftsman, a self-employed professional or an SME subject to corporation tax, you're eligible for this reduction,
Setting up a fleet for commuting to and from work.

The amount of the reduction is equal to the costs generated by the free installation, capped at 25% of the purchase or rental price of the bicycle fleet.

The tax reduction is deducted from the company's income tax for the year in which the expenditure is incurred. In the event that the amount of the tax reduction exceeds the amount of corporate income tax due, the unused balance cannot be refunded or carried forward.

Electric vehicle fleet: local grants

In addition to national subsidies, some regions and even départements have local subsidies that can be combined with government grants. These subsidies can help reduce the cost of purchasing or leasing electric vehicles.

Here are a few examples:

Greater Lyon Metropolis

If your company is based in the Greater Lyon area, here are the eligibility criteria:

Your company is an SME
Eligible for all legal forms (SARL, SASU, SAS, EURL, cooperative, etc)

Two other types of financial assistance are available for your fleet of vehicles:

A increase of 1,000 eurosif :
- You are in an EPZ
- A vehicle has been scrapped
- Buy an electric van or truck

An additional 1,000 euros in aid, in 2 possible cases:
- By taking out a "green contract" for a minimum of 24 months
- Source from your own production sites

Good to know: you must apply for this financial aid before making any purchase. Otherwise, you will not be eligible for this financial aid.

Ile-de-France region

The Ile-de-France region also offers financial assistance to help finance your project:

5,000 euros for fleet renewal. This bonus is available for the purchase of an electric passenger car or light commercial vehicle costing up to 45,000 euros.

For more information : Regional grants for electric cars in France

Car fleet: electric vehicle rental

Have you considered leasing your electric vehicle(s) for your fleet? Since your fleet of vehicles will evolve over the years, you'll need vehicles that meet your current and future needs.

To do this, you need to electric vehicle rental can be a solution for several reasons:

Manage vehicle loads

Another important aspect is that when you lease a vehicle, you don't have to pay VAT on all the vehicles. This will be directly included in the rental payments for the entire duration of the contract.

What's more, from an accounting point of view, the lease is expensed. As a result, your cash flow won't be impacted, and you'll be in better control.

Take advantage of subsidies to reduce costs

As we have already seen, the government has set up a range of financial aid schemes that can be combined with the assistance offered by France's départements and regions.

These schemes represent a financial boost for you and an incentive to invest in a fleet of clean vehicles.

Travel in total comfort

As a craftsman or self-employed professional, a car is an indispensable vehicle for all your travel needs. What's more, if it's a vehicle that's comfortable to drive, all the better.

Whatever the model, the electric vehicle provides comfort for the driver and passengers in a number of ways:

equipment,
its latest-generation technologies,
on driving, with heated seats and steering wheel, for example. A pleasant feature, especially in winter.

Boost your company's image

By choosing electric vehicles for your fleet, you're showing your concern for the environment and the energy transition. This can work in your favor with employees, partners, suppliers and even customers, who will also want to switch to electric mobility.

Find out more : 5 advantages of electric cars for professionals

How and which electric cars for your fleet?

Now it's time to choose the vehicle for your fleet.

When choosing an electric vehicle, there are several questions to ask:

How will the vehicle be used on a daily basis?
What's your budget?
What are your company's current and future needs (in terms ofrange, power, vehicle size, fleet size)?
Which financing method should I choose? Purchase or lease?

When it comes to choosing your vehicle, you can opt for :

Electric city cars

Hyundai IONIQ 5 RWD

Purchase price €51,400
(list price excluding bonus)

Operational leasing for professionals from €499 / month

Peugeot e-208 136 hp

Purchase price €34,100
(list price excluding bonus)

Leasing with no deposit for professionals from €494 / month

MG MG4 Standard

Purchase price €29,990
(list price excluding bonus)

Low-cost leasing for professionals from €365 / month

Electric sedans and SUVs

BMW i4 eDrive40

Purchase price €63,950
(list price excluding bonus)

Leasing with no down payment for professionals from €707 / month

Tesla Model Y Propulsion

Purchase price €44,990
(list price excluding bonus)

Low-cost leasing for professionals from €648 / month

Volvo XC40 Recharge

Purchase price €48,950
(list price excluding bonus)

Leasing with no deposit for professionals from €594 / month

Electric vans for craftsmen

Peugeot e-Partner 50 kWh

Purchase price €0
(list price excluding bonus)

Low-cost leasing for professionals from € 584 / month

Renault Kangoo Van E-Tech EV45 11kw

Purchase price €0
(list price excluding bonus)

Low-cost leasing for professionals from €634 / month

Opel Vivaro-e 200

Purchase price €0
(list price excluding bonus)

Leasing with no deposit for professionals from € 546 / month

Peugeot e-Traveller 50 kWh

Leasing with no down payment for professionals from €916 / month

Bonus: charging stations for your fleet

For a better experience with your electric vehicle and to accelerate your energy transition, consider installing charging stations.

Of course, there are platforms for quickly finding charging stations for your vehicle, such as Chargemap, Plug & Charge or Easy Charginunuality.

However, with strong demand for electric vehicles and little infrastructure in France, the installation of charging stations in urban and rural areas is essential.

You can also consider installing charging stations in your fleet. fleetThere are several reasons for this:

For your employees: knowing that you're installing charging stations in your fleet will not only save them time, boost employee loyalty and subsequently encourage them to make the energy transition,
For your customers: if your parking lot is open to the public, the installation of a charging station will attract customers, boost your brand awareness and your internet ranking. What's more, by doing so, you have the option of charging for recharging, in which case you'll be able to earn additional income.

Support for the installation of charging stations

As with electric vehicles, financial assistance is also available for the purchase, installation and maintenance of charging stations:

ADVENIR

For fleets and employees, a subsidy is available. The amount of the subsidy is 20%, with a ceiling of €600 (excl. VAT) per recharging point.

If you are an automotive services professional, Advenir can also subsidize your project for fleets and employees:

Type of beneficiary	Total aid rate	Maximum amount per recharging point
Fleets and employees	25 %	750 €

Advenir also offers a bonus for the installation of public pay stations for automotive service professionals in private parking lots. The amount of the subsidy varies according to the charging capacity chosen:

Type of beneficiary	Total aid rate	Charging power	Maximum amount per recharging point
Private parking lot open to the public	50 %	Between 3.7 and 11 kW AC	750 €
Private parking lot open to the public	50 %	Between 12 and 43 kW AC	2 200 €
Private parking lot open to the public	50 %	Between 20 and 40 kW DC	4 500 €
Private parking lot open to the public	50 %	Over 40 kW DC	7 500 €
Private parking lot open to the public	50 %	Over 140 kW DC	15 000 €

Conclusion

Whatever your job or activity, electric vehicles are accessible to all professionals. Several models are available to suit your needs, and a number of subsidies can be combined to reduce costs.

If you're looking to electrify or modernize your vehicle fleet, our Beev experts will help you, whatever your project.