France targets two thirds of sales of electric cars and 15% of the vehicle fleet by 2030

The government has set new objectives. The first concerns the sale of two thirds of electric cars by 2030 during the presentation of the national low-carbon strategy by the Ministry of Ecological Transition on Monday. He also announced the objective of having 15% electric cars in the country's fleet by the end of the decade. Even though their sales have exploded over the last four years, electric cars still represented only 2.2% of cars driving in France at the start of 2024, according to the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

The issue of greenhouse gas emissions

The transport sector represents “32% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, a figure which has not declined”, indicated during a press conference the Minister Delegate for Transport, François Durovray. Of this 32%, “the share of road transport (…) represents 94%”, he added. The minister therefore called for rethinking the spatial planning of cities to limit excessively long journeys, encourage collective travel as well as the electrification of vehicles. The objective is to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31% by 2030 and reduce energy consumption by 20%” in the transport sector compared to 2022, the minister insisted. “It is up to the government to allow manufacturers to develop the market for new electric vehicles for private fleets, for business fleets, and also collective vehicles,” he assured.

Electricity, a significant share of sales

Electric models represent 17% of new car sales since the start of the year in France, but have been slipping for several months, and are struggling to convince companies to electrify their fleets. And the envelope devoted to purchase bonuses should be significantly reduced in 2025, according to the government's draft budget. “There is a targeting issue, to give priority to helping people who need an electric vehicle to go to work,” said the minister’s office.

François Durovray also called for “massifying road use, putting more people in cars”, particularly via carpooling, to achieve the objectives set by the government. He also plans to present a major express coach plan at the beginning of 2025. It is also about having “the ambition of a denser city, within which a certain number of motorized trips will be able to be carried out tomorrow with active modes, by increasing the share of walking and cycling”, underlined the minister.