At the end of June 2022, the new government led by Elisabeth Borne confirmed that the ecological bonus of a maximum amount of €6,000 is maintained until the end of 2022. If this purchase aid is still valid for vehicles electric, it is no longer at all for plug-in hybrid cars. Explanations.
This was the big question that has remained unanswered since the re-election of Emmanuel Macron as head of state: will the ecological bonus of a maximum amount of €6,000 be renewed and extended? Finally, on June 29, 2022, the new Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne confirmed the thing: yes, the ecological bonus of a maximum amount of €6,000 will be maintained until the end of 2022.
“We have a great ambition which is to accelerate the transition from internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles. We must accompany our compatriots. Many of them absolutely cannot afford an electric vehicle,” declared Bruno Le Maire on the antenna of CNews on this date.
However, significant changes have been made by the government, particularly with regard to the conditions of allocation. Until then, the bonus of 6000 € was reserved to models rejecting 20 g/km of CO2 maximum. This particularity made it possible in particular to benefit from this aid for the purchase of certain plug-in hybrid cars such as the Kia Niro, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer or the Mercedes C-Class.
Also read: Electric cars – more than 6.5 million vehicles sold in 2021, an absolute record
A controversial WLTP cycle approval
Thanks to technological advances in batteries, these recent models remained under the bar of 20 g/km of CO2. However, these figures are obtained by a controversial WLTP certification process, and numerous studies have proven that the reality on the ground was quite different. One criterion is particularly singled out: the utility factor, ie the time spent by the car in 100% electric driving.
The higher this factor, the less the car will emit CO2. Logic. Only, and as a recent report by Transportation & Environmentplug-in hybrids consume on average 4.5 liters per 100. This number rises to 8.5 liters per 100 for hybrid models used in company fleets (who make up the bulk of the clientele). We are far from the 2 liters per 100 displayed on average by the approval figures.
The €6,000 bonus is over for plug-in hybrids
This is why the government has decided to reserve the ecological bonus of €6,000 for cars emitting 0 g/km of CO2. Either electric cars only (the price of which is below the €47,000 mark). With this modification, the French authorities therefore avoid promote a tax niche made possible by this controversial method of probate… and in the process achieve significant savings on the total amount of purchase aid allocated.
Nevertheless, PHEV models billed at less than €50,000 and displaying at least 50 km of electric autonomy in the city will be able to claim an ecological bonus of €1,000 until the end of 2022. If the order is placed between July 1 and December 31, 2022, buyers will be able to benefit from this assistance until June 30, 2023 (if invoicing occurs with this date). And if you ordered a PHEV at less than 20 g/km before July 1, 2022, you will be one of the last to benefit from the maximum ecological bonus of €6,000 (or €2,000 for models over €45,000). Provided here again that the invoicing or the first rent is paid before December 31, 2022.
