Abbreviated form of legal source(s)
- Code de l’énergie
- Décret 27 juin 2014
- Décret du 7 décembre 2020
- Décret du 19 janvier 2021
Description of support scheme
The ecological bonus is a financial aid allocated to any purchaser of a vehicle with a CO2 emission rate less than or equal to 20 g/km (electric, hydrogen or rechargeable hybrid) respecting the conditions set out in Art. D251-1 et seq. of the Energy Code (Code de l’énergie).
The scheme applies under the same conditions to vehicles leased on a long-term basis, in accordance with Décret du 27 juin 2014. According to Décret du 7 décembre 2020, the acquisition or long-term leasing of a used electric vehicle also qualifies for the bonus.
A decree of 19 January 2021 makes heavy-duty vehicles (electricity-powered or hydrogen-powered, over 3.5 tonnes used for the transport of goods or passengers) eligible for the bonus until 31 December 2022. The Government had announced this measure, included in the France Recovery Plan, on 15 December 2020. This decree also provides for an additional bonus of €1,000 for people living in overseas territories and receiving the bonus for a new vehicle.
Amount
The amount of the bonus is determined according to the engine of the vehicle and its purchase price.
From 1 July 2021 until the end of December 2021, the amounts of the ecological bonus for the purchase of 100% electrically powered vehicles will evolve on the basis of the decree of 7 December 2020. Thus, from 1 July 2021, the maximum amount of the ecological bonus will be reduced from €7000 to €6000. Until 31 December 2021, plug-in hybrids will still be eligible for a €1,000 ecological bonus before being permanently excluded from the scheme in 2022.
Since 1 June 2020, there is the possibility to benefit from an electric retrofit bonus for converting a combustion engine into an electric engine on an old vehicle. In addition, Decree No. 2018-1318 of 28 December 2018 introduced a bonus of up to €4,000 for certain goods or passenger transport vehicles.
Addressees
The addressees are purchasers of new or second-hand clean energy vehicles.
Procedure
The amount of aid is either deducted from the invoice by the seller or paid to the buyer after the purchase by the Fund for acquisition of clean vehicles (Fonds d'aide à l'acquisition de véhicules propres), managed by the Agence de services et de paiement (ASP), in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Order of 29 December 2017. In this case, the request for payment of the aid is made via a website dedicated to the conversion premium.
Competent authority
Agence de services et de paiement (ASP) – Service and Payment Agency