The lack of infrastructure has long slowed down the development of electric cars in France. But according to the latest figures, the equipment rate is improving. Between the beginning of 2015 and the end of November 2018, the number of public charging points increased from 10,000 to 25,000 in the territory.
Since the country has about 158,000 electrically powered cars, there is now a charging station for 6.3 vehicles. This is an average well above that recommended by the European Commission, which is 1 in 10. Compared with September 2017, this represents 24% more charging stations, according to the barometer conducted by Areve and Gireve, two organizations bringing together the actors of electric mobility.
45,000 milestones by 2020
And according to the Areve, thanks to multiple public and private investments, approximately 45,000 public terminals should be installed in France by 2020. “All of these initiatives will both ensure the recharge of the daily and meet to the travel needs of electric vehicle users, “says the executive on the Bercy site.
Now, “beyond the number of terminals installed, the challenge is […] to gradually enrich the service, and also to pay particular attention to the quality of services rendered,” said Bruno Lebrun, President of Gireve, quoted in the communique.
About two-thirds of the charging points installed in France are accelerated charging, a quarter slow charging and 8% fast charging, details the barometer. Ile-de-France is the best-endowed region, with 3,708 charging points, but accounts for about 11 electric vehicles per outlet.
Silver medalist, Occitanie has 3,115 charging points, an average of one for every 4 vehicles, followed by New Aquitaine (2,926, a charging point for 5 cars).
According to the manager of the electricity distribution network Enedis, in addition to publicly available terminals, France had, at the end of the third quarter of 2018, 76,300 charging points for individuals (collective or individual housing) and 104,500 for businesses, in total, more than 205,000.
AFP Source