Study

Interest group: ‘Switchover to 100 per cent electric is in full swing’

Published on 2025-09-04 at 13:27

Volgens de Franse belangenorganisatie Charge France zit elektrisch rijden in de lift.

The transition to a Europe with 100 per cent electric vehicles is well under way. Surely, says a new study by Charge France, a French advocacy group of charging operators.

Charge France, which brings together eighteen major charging operators including Electra, ENGIE Vianeo, Powerdot, Fastned, Allego, Driveco, Ionity, Izivia and Atlante, commissioned a study, based on an analysis by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and concluded that the all-electric car is the most economical, ecological and competitive solution for citizens and for Europe. Plug-in hybrids and range-extender cars would mainly be a short-term solution in the transition.

In the first half of 2025, BEV sales increased by 24% compared to 2024. If current EU regulations on Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) remain unchanged, BEVs will account for 90% to 100% of new registrations by 2035. Consumers are following this trend, with almost 60% of Europeans saying they would choose an electric vehicle for their next purchase. Charge France’s conclusion: Europe’s trajectory towards electric mobility is already firmly established.

Four recommendations

The study particularly highlights the great benefit for families, who can save up to €1,600 a year compared to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Based on the study, Charge France formulates four recommendations to policymakers to achieve the phase-out of exhaust emissions by 2035 to meet European targets.

Firstly, the coalition calls for the European Union to strongly reaffirm the targets. “Guarantee that only 100% electric vehicles can be sold after 2035 and confirm EU regulations as currently formulated,” it echoes. “This is essential to provide certainty for investors, structure the sector, safeguard purchasing power and economic performance, ensure energy independence and mitigate climate change.”

Support measures

Under the motto of a just and fair transition, Charge France also advocates maintaining tax breaks (benefit in kind, tax depreciation) for electric-powered commercial vehicles, and abolishing them for combustion and hybrid vehicles, as Belgium already did. All purchase subsidies for hybrids should also be scrapped. To make this affordable, the association calls for low-income families to be supported with measures such as social leasing, scrappage bonuses or subsidies for used EVs. Thirdly, the economic and environmental benefits of EVs should also be highlighted. Environmental labels should be reformed to better reflect actual energy consumption and emissions, especially for PHEVs, which should not be equated with BEVs.

Finally, the coalition asks the European Union to support the transformation of the sector. It wants retraining and skills building within the sector to be accelerated to ensure a successful industrial transition. A clear European EV offer should also be created, based on traceable, recyclable batteries and local production.

“Everything is in place to reach the goal of electrification by 2035 and allow Europe to participate in the global industrial, energy and technological race,” Aurélien de Meaux, president of Charge France and Electra, said at a press conference, held simultaneously in several European countries. “China, with an integrated strategy and huge production volumes, has already reached price parity between combustion engine cars and electric vehicles. The country is investing heavily in ultra-fast charging and exporting its auto industry. Whatever course we take, one thing is certain: electrification is our biggest opportunity – the fastest and most direct way – to simultaneously strengthen purchasing power, safeguard our sovereignty and become more sustainable.”

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This article was automatically translated from the Dutch language original to English (British).

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