“The market is accelerating! Cécile Goubet, General Delegate of the Avere-France (the national association for the development of electric mobility), is pleased: in the first six months of 2019, sales of 100% electric vehicles in France have climbed 46%.
In absolute value, the figures are still rather weak. It sold 21,007 battery-powered cars between January and June (28,911 with rechargeable hybrids), to report to 1.17 million new cars sold over the period : This represents 1.8% of the market (2.5% with rechargeable hybrids). The industry has set an annual target of 150,000 for 2022.
Upcoming launches
“One of the main obstacles, the scarcity of available models, is disappearing,” says the manager. For a year, Hyundai has launched the Kona, Kia la Niro, Audi e-tron – with results however still mixed. And several important launches are expected for the fall, including small city cars like the Peugeot e-208, the Opel Corsa-e, the Volkswagen ID3 or the new ZOE.
It is not certain, however, that the manufacturers’ efforts to offer a wider offer are enough to boost the market. According to a study just conducted by the firm Oliver Wyman, 78% of French motorists are interested in the battery vehicle, but remain curbed both by their fears about autonomy and the cost deemed too high. 56% of them believe that the autonomy remains insufficient and 57% think that the electric cars will remain more expensive than their thermal equivalents at least until 2025.
Intensify the mesh of the territory
“In fact, the manufacturers now offer autonomies around 400 kilometers or more, which is a tipping point. Moreover, eco bonus and the conversion premium almost erases the price differential with the thermal, today about 10,000 euros, “said Cécile Goubet. The price of fuel is also cheaper, and maintenance is much cheaper. According to Oliver Wyman, once these benefits are explained, motorists are 38% to positively change their perception of the electric car.
Another potential brake, the charging station network is improving him too. “We have 26,000 public charging stations, 1 for 7 vehicles: it’s better than the European Commission recommendation of 1: 10,” says Cécile Goubet, while acknowledging that more needs to be done. intensify the network of the territory, especially on motorways.
In February, Emmanuel Macron announced a series of measures to get the market off the ground. The Mobility Orientation Law (LOM), currently under consideration, should in particular make the charging stations mandatory in new buildings, and facilitate the procedures for installing them in multi-family housing.