Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Electric vehicles in France - Statistics & facts
French consumers’ interest in electric vehicles is still growing. As the European Union sets targets to decarbonize its transport sector, including a petrol and diesel car production ban in 2035, member states are working to increase the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles within their borders. In France, these efforts have led to a fleet of 596,300 cars with the Crit’Air E sticker in 2023, meaning they are zero-emission vehicles. This increase in the French electric car parc is boosted by rising electric vehicle sales. While internal combustion vehicles still held the largest share of the market, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles represented over a quarter of the French passenger car sales that year. This foothold was higher than the European Union’s share of plug-in electric vehicles among new sales, which suggests a stronger EV adoption in France than in other neighboring countries such as Germany, Spain, and Italy.
To bolster this traction, France offered nearly 7,800 euros in EV purchase incentives as of the first quarter of 2023, including 2,773 euros in purchase tax reduction. However, while the French government is increasing its efforts to make EVs more attractive to consumers, the market still faces several challenges.
Six in 10 electric vehicle owners in France most often charge their vehicle at home. However, this solution might be unreachable for residents of highly urban areas and blocks of flats, where the lack of private parking hinders access to home charging. This increases pressure on the public charging network, which must meet the motorization needs of a population who, aside from larger cities with good public transportation networks, depend on passenger cars for their daily commute.
Electric vehicle adoption in France still faces many challenges, despite being on the rise. Addressing issues related to people’s access to charging and consumer opinion could be central to this market’s expansion, needed to meet the European Union targets.
To bolster this traction, France offered nearly 7,800 euros in EV purchase incentives as of the first quarter of 2023, including 2,773 euros in purchase tax reduction. However, while the French government is increasing its efforts to make EVs more attractive to consumers, the market still faces several challenges.
Charging access is one of the barriers to the market
One of these challenges arises as the infrastructure needs to adapt to meet the demands of a growing electric vehicle fleet. BEV sales increased in France in 2023, reaching nearly 328,500 units. As the number of electric vehicles increases, investments in the charging infrastructure could help France to accommodate the eventual energy needs of a fully electric fleet. In 2022, there were around 118,000 public EV chargers in France, up by nearly 44 percent year-over-year. Most of these were alternating current chargers, which tended to be slower than their direct current counterparts, and were located in the Île-de-France region, where Paris is situated.Six in 10 electric vehicle owners in France most often charge their vehicle at home. However, this solution might be unreachable for residents of highly urban areas and blocks of flats, where the lack of private parking hinders access to home charging. This increases pressure on the public charging network, which must meet the motorization needs of a population who, aside from larger cities with good public transportation networks, depend on passenger cars for their daily commute.
Disconnect between consumers and EV owners
While EV adoption is rising, the challenges faced by the market could slow its growth. About a third of French respondents to Statista’s Consumer Insights mentioned they would consider hybrid propulsion when buying a car, which was a similar share to those considering petrol and diesel vehicles. The consideration for electric cars was lower, indicative of consumers’ persistent worries regarding fully electric vehicles, including their driving range and cost. This perception of EVs differs from that of French electric vehicle owners: as of January 2024, 57 percent of them somewhat or completely disagreed that they were often afraid of lacking driving range. In that same survey, four in five EV owners agreed the maintenance expenses for their EV were low. This suggests a disconnect between the reality of EV owners and the perception of these vehicles by the general population.Electric vehicle adoption in France still faces many challenges, despite being on the rise. Addressing issues related to people’s access to charging and consumer opinion could be central to this market’s expansion, needed to meet the European Union targets.
