Should you green your company fleet? The answer is yes, for ecological reasons, of course, but also for economic and tax advantages. Governments and consumers alike have understood that the transport sector is an essential lever in the fight against the climate crisis. For logistics companies, the transition to electric vehicles is important and soon to be mandatory, in order to remain competitive on the market. Find out more in this article about why you need to go electric when it comes to goods vehicles.
The ecological advantage: greening the company fleet to reduce environmental impact
The fight against global warming is the main challenge in the transition to electric power for freight transport. Companies in this sector, one of the most polluting, benefit from a number of advantages by switching to cleaner vehicles.
Reducing carbon emissions
Compared with a diesel truck, here are the possible savings in terms of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions:
- between 4 and 18% for a natural gas truck with bio-methane;
- 15% for a hydrogen truck produced from fossil fuels;
- between 63% and 76% for electric trucks, and up to 93% if the energy used is of renewable origin;
- 89% for a hydrogen truck produced using renewable energy.
Improving air quality
You can't have missed the growing number of health warnings about the quality of the air we breathe in France, particularly in major cities. By opting for less-polluting vehicles, you're helping to reduce atmospheric air pollution and thus the risk of respiratory illness for local residents.
Enhancing the company's brand image
A company's ethics and environmental commitment are now at the heart of French consumers' choice criteria. So much so, in fact, that carbon footprints are required in some calls for tender. That's why every company with a transport fleet has an interest in making it greener!
Read also: What changes for freight transport in 2024?
The economic advantage: switching to electric transport vehicles to achieve economies of scale
The benefits of an electric fleet are not just ecological. Here's what you stand to gain, economically, by switching to cleaner vehicles.
Lower fuel consumption
Apart from economic crises and special circumstances, electricity prices in France are lower than those for petrol. What's more, with the multiplication of recharging stations and the increase in power output, it is now relatively quick and easy to recharge an electric transport vehicle.
Easier maintenance
The electric motor has fewer components than its internal combustion counterpart. Maintenance costs are lower, as electric motors do not require regular oil changes or replacement of air filters. Brake pad wear is reduced by regenerative braking systems, extending motor life. Last but not least, maintenance of an electric vehicle requires only half a day's downtime, a considerable time-saver for a company's productivity.
The tax advantage: a political approach to the electric transition of road haulage
Numerous state and European subsidies are designed to encourage the transition to electric transport vehicles. The supply chain is going green to meet the challenges of climate change. With this in mind, a number of schemes have been put in place.
Separate damping of the car and its battery
For the least polluting internal combustion vehicles, the depreciation of the purchase value cannot exceed the threshold of 30,000 euros. Electric cars, on the other hand, are exempt from this constraint, as they benefit from double depreciation. This means that, in addition to the 30,000 euros depreciable on the vehicle, the value of the battery can be fully depreciated over its useful life.
Please note that to benefit from this advantage, the cost of the battery on the invoice or lease contract must be stated separately from that of the vehicle.
Exemption from TVS
Since 2021, vehicles powered exclusively by electricity are no longer subject to the TVS (Taxe sur les véhicules de société). Despite the fact that this tax will change in 2023 to include CO2 and atmospheric pollutant emissions, electric fleets have retained their exemption.
Two bonuses for the purchase of a professional electric vehicle
The French government has set up two schemes to help you buy or lease an electric vehicle. The first is the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros for a van (3,000 euros for a passenger car). The second is the conversion bonus, which ranges from 5,000 to 9,000 euros for N2 or van-type vehicles. It applies to diesel cars registered before January 1, 2011 and gasoline vehicles registered before January 1, 2006.
Help to install charging stations
The installation of electric charging stations in the parking lots of private companies or local authorities can be financed by the Advenir program. The amount of financial assistance varies according to the type of beneficiary and the level of investment.
The obligation to renew the company fleet: the LOM law
Promulgated in December 2019, the LOM (Loi d'orientation des mobilités) includes an obligation for companies to renew their vehicle fleets. This applies to private and public companies with more than 50 employees and a fleet of over 100 vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes. This law requires an ever-increasing proportion of clean vehicles.
How can we control the costs of the electrical transition aimed at greening freight deliveries?
Despite all the government subsidies available, greening the company fleet is not an easy task for all professionals. More and more companies whose core business is not logistics are opting tooutsource their transport operations. This enables them to gain in efficiency, while anticipating the future of cleaner mobility and meeting the ecological demands of consumers.
Alongside its logistics partners, D&fiGroupe is committed to environmentally-friendly goods transport. We give priority to electric vehicles for our delivery services in cities and over ever greater distances. Thanks to our extensive network of transporters, we can help you organize your logistics operations throughout France, Europe and the rest of the world.
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