Ségolène Royal account on the “dieselgate” to boost the electric to The Point

On a visit to the World of the automobile, this Saturday, October 1, the minister of the Environment, Ségolène Royal, has hoped that the ” dieselgate “, the crisis, born out of the cheat of Volkswagen on diesel engines, gives a “boost” to the development of electric mobility.

During his visit, the minister, whose portfolio includes Transport, was especially interested in the cars, rechargeable, and has praised the action of the government for the development of their sales, but also in the fight against pollution. Because beyond the case of Volkswagen, who has admitted to a year ago have rigged the software managing the engines of 11 million diesel cars, the investigation of a commission of experts appointed by Ségolène Royal has been detected “anomalies” on the pollutant emissions of cars of several brands. The survey also highlighted the gap sometimes considerable between the emission sessions and certification in real conditions. “The car manufacturers knew it, they had not been promoted, so this is not good, but, at the same time, this is not a fraud in the sense that they do not have software installed to fraud,” assured Ms. Royal.

” manufacturers need to lower prices and expand their range “

Friday, the CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, said he was “totally committed to working at all levels” with the commission, which continues its investigations. The builders “are now required, and the manufacturers of the French brand are engaged, including Renault, getting back to the standards,” insisted his side the minister. “Now, what I wish, is that this crisis so a boost for the electric car. The electric car, hydrogen car, it must now be a priority, the manufacturers have to lower prices and expand their range, ” she started.

During his time with the World, the minister has had eyes only for electric cars, either on the stands of the brands of the PSA group (Peugeot, Citroën and DS), or those of Renault, which showed its new Zoe autonomy almost doubled : 400 km theoretical, 300 real-life conditions. “The self is something totally crucial, because this slows down the purchase of an electric car, it is the fear of falling down “, she said. “There are two things to do : to strengthen the autonomy of the batteries and, secondly, to deploy more charging stations “, she said.

100 000 electric cars run in France

The ministry of Environment and Transport has also indicated that France was ahead on the goal to deploy one million charge points, public or private, all over the territory by 2020. “There is a tax credit on the posts private, it costs 400 euros” with this device, pointed out the minister, welcoming also the extension, in the finance bill 2017, the “superbonus” € 10,000 for the purchase of an electric car against the scrapping of a diesel over ten years.

Ségolène Royal has also surveyed the stands of Nissan, partner of Renault, to see the Leaf’s electric, but also the new Micra made in France. The Tesla luxury electric cars in the united states, have even had the right to his visit, and the oem French Faurecia and Plastic Omnium, points in the depollution of diesel engines and the lightening of cars.

The minister noted that over 100,000 electric vehicles circulating in France today, even if the proportion remains low in a fleet of more than 38 million units. Since the beginning of the year 2016, a little more than 1% of new cars registered in france have to do with electricity.