Following the significant progress of electric mobility in France, various commercial companies have decided to install charging points in collaboration with eMobility firms.
The goal is to attract the attention of users of zero or low-emission vehicles, providing them with the opportunity to recharge their car batteries while shopping or enjoying a cup of coffee.
It is worth mentioning that as of November 30, 2023, the country had 114,386 public charging points, representing a 48% increase in one year.
Furthermore, on a continental level, France holds a prominent position, ranking third among countries with the most public chargers in Europe.
The EU country leading this list is the Netherlands, with 111,821 units. Following are Germany (87,674), France (83,317), and Italy (37,186).
Below, Mobility Portal Europe presents a list of commercial companies that have submitted projects for the installation of charging points.
Carrefour
Carrefour has been one of the first supermarket chains in the country to present plans for the installation of charging points at its branches.
The group launched a green energy-powered electromobility service in March 2022, with a total of 1,200 units already installed.
However, the company’s future goal is to reach 5,000 EV charging points in its supermarkets and hypermarkets in France alone by the year 2025.
To ensure the deployment of this network, Carrefour has two main partners, Allego and Driveco, who will handle the investment, construction, monitoring, and maintenance of the network.
Courtepaille
The national chain of grill-focused restaurants has already installed ten charging points in its establishments.
Currently, the possibility of adding chargers to existing facilities is being studied.
In addition, the company announced that each new location opening should be equipped with a charger.
Founded in Burgundy in 1961, in 2006, it became the first food chain to conduct a “Carbon Balance.”
McDonald’s
The American company founded in 1955 is making headlines in France for carrying out large projects to install electric vehicle charging hubs.
McDonald’s, which currently manages around 1539 fast-food establishments in the country, recently launched a project to expand its units.
In collaboration with Izivia, the company will install 2,000 fast-charging points at 700 French branches by the year 2025.
The new units will deliver between 150 kW and 200 kW.
This way, electric vehicle batteries can be charged up to 80 percent in 20 minutes.
Le Maison Troisgros
With the intention of enhancing the experience for its customers, the hotel and restaurant La Maison Troisgros started offering electric vehicle charging options in 2023.
The installation and operation of the equipment were carried out in collaboration with the companies ChargePoint, Sonepar, and Cap’Energy.
It’s worth mentioning that La Maison Troisgros is located in Roanne, northwest of the city of Lyon.
The head chef, Michel Troisgros, currently leads the business, which has three Michelin stars and has been operating since the 1930s.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, a group that owns, develops, and operates sustainable real estate assets headquartered in Paris, unveiled a plan in October 2023 to support the environmental transition of cities and commerce.
As part of the plan, the expansion of measures promoting sustainable mobility is considered, with a commitment to achieve at least 4,000 electric vehicle charging points by 2030 in Europe.
Currently, the company already has more than 1,000 charging hubs in French territory distributed across its various properties.
What are the benefits of installing charging points for companies in France?
Électricité de France S.A. (EDF), a multinational electric services company that is state-owned by the French government, published information in November about the benefits of equipping businesses with charging stations.
One of the advantages is related to the fact that the implementation of these technologies enhances the company’s image.
87% of consumers maintain a positive image of a company that supports social or environmental initiatives, according to a Forbes study published in 2017.
Furthermore, it improves the quality of the employee experience.
Through the installation of a hub, employees will have additional comfort, with the possibility of charging their cars during working hours.
Simultaneously, on the economic front, the decision contributes to an increase in branch revenues.
Companies can choose to charge their customers and employees if they wish.
Additionally, those who decide to install a charging point in their location will benefit from the ADVENIR financing program.
These aids can vary between 20% and 50% of the total cost, depending on the type of business and the target audience.
But, how much does the installation process cost?
A charging solution in any store or company is estimated to cost between 1,000 and 5,000 euros, taxes included, per terminal.
This amount includes the terminal’s price, costs related to the installation, and expenses related to the electrical panel.
