France invests in an Electric Car Future

The Peugeot iON - just one of the cars which will benefit from France's investment in electric cars.

France is to invest 1.5 billion Euros to install recharging points for electric cars and promote EV development and purchase.

We’ve had various declarations of intent from politicians with regards to an Electric Car future this last year, including Portugal committing to the Electric Car, Germany looking to see a million electric cars on their roads and Boris Johnson’s stated intent of making London the European Electric Car Capital. Not to mention the endless electric cars from manufacturers from BMW to Reva.

But now we have what is probably the biggest declaration so far – France is to invest 1.5 billion Euros to install up to 4 million recharging stations across the country and invest in car purchases and subsidies for manufacturers and consumers.

The 4 million charging stations across the country will be mostly in private homes, although developers will be forced to include charging points in developments from 2012. New charging stations will also be built at the roadside and in car parks.

Battery manufacture and development is also on the agenda. Renault will receive subsidy of 125 million Euros for a new battery plant plus a loan of 150 million Euros. A further 100 million Euros will also be made available to electric car producers such as Peugeot and Smart. The plan envisages a total of 100,000 electric car purchase from the state and major private companies by 2015.

It’s a big commitment from the French, but it will increase the likelihood that electric cars will become a viable option. But there will also need to be work on the national grid to make the delivery seamless – which is envisaged – and a big change in drivers’ attitudes towards electric cars.

We can see electric cars being viable, but far more likely is that the range-extender principle in hybrids becomes prevalent. That would offer the ability to use electric power for short, city journeys but the ability to undertake longer journeys with the use of the petrol/diesel range extender.

And let’s not forget the hydrogen fuel cell. At least Boris is hedging his bets with a hydrogen highway planned for London.