Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

French drivers who swap their old diesel cars for an all-electric vehicle could be entitled to a bonus of up to 10,000 euros, thanks to a new initiative from the French government. The offer is part of a major new state project to reduce pollution and encourage EV ownership.

 

Diesel engines that do not conform to modern emission standards can produce extremely high levels of pollution, and the new scheme is aimed at getting such vehicles off the road and replacing them with cleaner alternatives. From April, anyone with a diesel car that is at least 13 years old is invited to scrap their existing vehicle and swap it for an EV in exchange for a "super bonus" of 10,000 euros. The only condition is that they must live in one of France's PPA zones, which designate high pollution areas and concern almost half of French residents.

 

The 10,000 euro bonus is actually the result of combining two financial incentives: the existing environmental bonus of 6,300 euros for purchasing a new EV and the new bonus of 3,700 euros for scrapping an old diesel car. If drivers prefer to replace their diesel vehicle with a rechargeable hybrid, their total bonus will be up to 6,500 euros.

 

In order to further encourage drivers to adopt EVs, the French government announced the installation of seven million new charging points across the country. It will also become a legal requirement to supply charging stations in car parks, train stations, supermarkets and airports.