The French Government Makes Retrofitting Easier: A Boost for the Industry

The French government has taken steps to simplify the process of retrofitting vehicles, addressing concerns raised by industry players. Entrepreneurs in this field have faced administrative difficulties and lengthy homologation procedures. To tackle these issues, the government has published three decrees. The first decree expands the range of vehicles eligible for retrofitting to include special vehicles such as tow trucks and motorhomes. Another decree exempts vehicles using natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hybrids, or plug-in hybrids from requiring technical approval from the manufacturer, provided they are over five years old. This puts them on equal footing with fully electric vehicles, which already do not require such approval. The third decree allows heavy utility vehicles to obtain a Crit’Air 2 certificate if they have an effective pollution control system that meets Euro VI standards. These measures aim to accelerate the development of the retrofitting industry. They also ensure that vehicles, particularly those classified beyond Crit’Air 2, can access low-emission zones in France. This makes retrofitting even more appealing for urban and light commercial vehicles. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Minister of Energy Transition, stated that these decrees simplify homologation procedures and expand the scope of eligible vehicles, thereby promoting the growth of the industry. Retrofitting is particularly suitable for frequent use vehicles that do not require extensive range, such as city cars, light commercial vehicles, and certain heavy vehicles.

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