Government announces upcoming 'super-hollow' charging hours for electric cars
Ramping Up Electric Vehicles: France's Charging Station Games Plan
Get ready, folks! The French government is revving up its electric vehicles (EVs) push with a fresh strategy for expanding charging stations. On May 16, they announced plans to speed up the deployment of charging stations, aiming to cut installation delays for co-owners to just six months post-vote. Enedis, the network manager, is ordered to present an action plan by September 1, 2025. By the end of 2025, we'll see a centralized system for public charging stations, providing clear pricing and availability details to make life easier for drivers comparing options.
Why the sudden interest in these green rides? Economy Minister Eric Lombard calls it an "industrial sovereignty issue." According to Industry Minister Marc Ferracci, the move is all about giving EV drivers peace of mind, knowing that as the number of electric vehicles increases, the government backs the development of charging stations.
Setting Sights on 400,000 Charging Points
Marc Ferracci hinted at smarter pricing for EV contracts, making charging tariffs even more competitive. This includes "super off-peak" hours, like at night and weekends, and hours of high solar energy production, between 11 am and 5 pm. Currently, around 65% of private EV users don't control their charging, plugging in at home during the so-called "electric peak period." Look out for a new system that pushes more off-peak charging into the afternoons, starting in November for individuals and businesses (except those connected to high voltage, who'll start next year in 2027).
The ministers expect to see 400,000 charging points on public roads by 2030, including about 50,000 fast charging points. The grand total includes approximately seven million charging points (public and private) compared to the current nearly 2.5 million.
France is aligning its EV strategy with broader European Union regulations and national sustainability targets. The country must meet the EU's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which demands the installation of public charging points, including at least one 150 kW fast charger every 60 km along major transport corridors by 2025. This EU-wide target speeds up public charging infrastructure deployment and informs France’s charging station plan.
Private sector investment plays a crucial role, with ventures like EKLEO investing in fast-charging hubs for electric trucks, delivering up to 300 kW and recharging in about 1.5 hours. Investments like these demonstrate scalable business models for EV infrastructure. Competitive pricing is encouraged through the EU regulatory environment, ensuring a favorable market for EV users.
This coordinated approach aims to support France’s transition to electric mobility by guaranteeing widespread, reliable, and competitively priced charging infrastructure is available across public roads within the 2025 timeframe. Let's see how this electric revolution unfolds!
- As France ramps up its electric vehicle (EV) push, the country's focus extends beyond charging stations to other sectors, including industry, finance, energy, and lifestyle.
- The expansion of electric-vehicle charging infrastructure is seen as essential in fostering industrial sovereignty, a point emphasized by Economy Minister Eric Lombard.
- Technology also plays a crucial role in France's EV strategy, with smarter pricing for EV contracts offering competitive charging tariffs during off-peak hours, like nights and weekends or high solar energy production hours.
- In the long run, France aims to create a dynamic and competitive environment for the growth of electric vehicles (cars), supported by a robust and affordable charging infrastructure, a goal shared by the European Union through regulations such as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
