"France embraces incentive to trade dirty motors for EVs."

EVs charging in London (photo Julie May)

“An electric car conversion scheme run by the French government to encourage owners replace their old petrol and diesel cars with new electric vehicles has had an unexpected uptake. Established at the start of 2017, the intention of the scheme is to help France achieve its Paris climate agreement emissions reduction target.

By scrapping old polluting vehicles, owners of old vehicles receive a bonus under the scheme of up to 2,500 euros to go towards the purchase of a new electric vehicle. The amount received by applicants differs according to taxation status, with taxable households being able to receive a bonus for converting from diesel vehicles registered before 2001, or petrol vehicles registered before 1997. 'Non-taxable' households may convert diesels vehicles registered before 2006, or petrol vehicles registered before 1997.

While the French government allocated funding for 100,000 such applications each year, already 45,000 people have applied for the bonus since January 1, according to local French media group RTL. To qualify for the conversion bonus, the car must have been owned by the applicant for at least 12 months, be registered in France and not be considered a ‘damaged vehicle’. The old car must be scrapped within 6 months of the new vehicle purchase….”

Read more at: France embraces incentive to trade in dirty motors for EVs. RenewEconomy, May 19, 2018.