Amendments, sub-amendments, attempt to short-circuit the parliamentary flash mission… The debates around the greening of the fleets were played out on several sides. While the long-term rental companies gave a glimpse of managing the file like a whipping boy, the executive adopted the attitude of a good father.
As expected, the law establishes sanctions against companies that do not respect their fleet greening quotas. The amendment tabled by Senator Lavarde, introduced a tax of €2,000 in 2025, €4,000 in 2026 and €5,000 in 2027 “per low-emission vehicle in deficit compared to the fleet greening objective”. This penalty affects companies with more than 100 vehicles as indicated in the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM). Or almost. The scope and scope of sanctions are tempered by a series of related measures.
Sanctions and sweets
Several mechanisms are introduced to escort companies on the path to transition. « Passenger vehicles will benefit from a bonus by being counted as 1.2 vehicles when they are proven to have a low carbon footprint during the production cycle”specifies the government. And each light utility vehicle counts as 1.5 vehicles. “And bonus justified by less maturity of the electric alternatives market” in this market segment.
For the Transport & Environment Think Tank, the tax is as follows: “largely mothballed, with numerous exemptions and relaxations. With this shaky solution, we empty the greening quotas of their substance”. And also to regret that “plug-in hybrids continue to be considered green vehicles”as they ride “on battery between 11 and 15% of the time”.
Exempt rental companies
Furthermore, the government amendment exempts long- and short-term rental companies from the sanctions system, as they requested. Anne-Claire Forel, Secretary General of Sesamlld believes that in this matter there is a clarification of the situation by considering only “the end user who chooses the vehicle. The user company is directly responsible.” Léo Larivière of T&E deplores this decision, while the major rental companies « are however also subject to these obligations with regard to the LOM”.
The conclusions of the Flash mission
The government wanted to spare both the goat and the cabbage. Sesamlld recognizes that “The government's changes are a good thing. This will give little flexibility to park managers.” Léo Larivière, from Transport & Environment points “sending a signal with the implementation of a system to enforce the LOM, even if it is really minimal”. The debate is not closed. A new bill could still see the light of day at the beginning of 2025following the conclusions of the Leseul-Fievet parliamentary mission expected on December 18.
