Abolition of the ecological bonus: what impact for fleets?
To everyone's surprise, the ecological bonus granted to companies that buy or lease electric cars was simply abolished on 14/02/2024. A radical and brutal decision, which may seem paradoxical given the stakes involved in decarbonizing corporate car fleets.
So, could this reversal undermine the necessary energy transition of car fleets? At first glance, we might think so. It could put a serious brake on the electrification of vehicle fleets, which has been timidly initiated in recent years. However, a closer look at the situation suggests that the ongoing revolution will continue, with or without the bonus. We explain!
The abolition of the €3,000 ecological bonus for companies and public authorities should not call into question the relevance of the energy transition. Beyond the obvious ecological impact, the advantages of using electric vehicles remain numerous, and prices are currently quite attractive.
The benefits of the energy transition for businesses
- Lower fuel costs
The use of electric vehicles reduces fuel costs. This can represent significant savings for companies. Vehicles often account for 2ème expense item behind salaries. - Lower maintenance costs
Electric vehicles require less maintenance than their internal combustion counterparts. There are no oil changes to be carried out, no timing belts, less wear and tear on braking parts... In use, maintaining an electric vehicle costs companies less. - Lower CO2 emissions
Electric vehicles produce no CO2 emissions. This reduces the company's overall environmental impact. - A legal framework favorable to electric power
Legislation is evolving to support the energy transition. For example, with the creation of Low Emission Zones (ZFE). These zones will gradually restrict the circulation of combustion-powered vehicles in certain traffic zones within metropolitan areas. In addition, the LOM law introduces new quotas to accelerate the renewal of car fleets towards greener models. As a result, from 1er From January 2022, the LOM will require fleets of more than 100 vehicles to include a minimum of 10% of low-emission CO2 vehicles (<60g CO2/km). From 2024, the required percentage of low-emission vehicles will be 20%, then 35% in 2027, then 50% from 2030.
So, has the abolition of the ecological bonus sounded the death knell for the energy migration of car fleets? In view of the various advantages that counterbalance the loss of this financial boost, it's not quite so obvious.
But that's not really the point...
For corporate fleets, the key challenge is to decide which vehicles to electrify. Some companies have decided to electrify the vehicles of volunteers. Others have chosen to target specific professions within the organization...
In reality, the only way to achieve a successful fleet energy transition is to know how each vehicle is used. Electrifying a vehicle that does more than 500km a day doesn't make sense. Similarly, electrifying a vehicle without taking into account recharging needs and capacities can be particularly risky and counter-productive.
In short, electrifiable vehicles are those whose use is consistent with the operation of an electric vehicle. If the use is in line with the requirements of an electric vehicle, then the savings will be there. To guide companies in their choices... there's only one option: the collection and analysis of usage data.
How Optimum can help you with your energy transition:
Optimum offers various solutions for collecting and analyzing data. This is carried out over a significant period of time, providing an accurate snapshot of usage (distance, number of trips, stopping times, etc.) for each vehicle. We help you determine which vehicles are best suited to electrification. Finally, we make precise recommendations on the charging infrastructure required (number, capacity and location of charging stations).