Scheme for low earners: EV for 54 euros per month

Driving is generally expensive, whether you drive electric or fuel. The disadvantage of electric cars is that they have a high price, both used and new. But France has a solution to low incomes.

Although the average price of an electric car in 2022 was over 50,000 euros, we are seeing more and more affordable electric cars. For example the Citroën e-C3.

Electric car for low earners

Anyone earning less than 15,400 euros a year is eligible for a new French program that allows affordable leasing of electric vehicles. It is no coincidence that the French government chooses models from the Stellantis Group.

The cheapest model in the program, which allows people on low incomes to drive electric cars, is the Citroën ë-C3. French people with lower incomes can drive a car for just 54 euros a month. That’s almost half as much as the new, dirt-cheap Renault Twingo EV.

If you want something a little less chauvinistic, you can lease a Fiat 500 for 89 euros a month. The most expensive models in the range are a Jeep Avenger and a Peugeot e-2008. Both cost 149 euros per month.

All contracts have a term of three years and do not require a deposit. In short: for 54 euros per month (without electricity) you can really drive an electric car.

The Citroën ë-C3 as an electric vehicle

But what do France’s low earners get for this money? The Citroën ë-C3 has a battery pack with a capacity of 44 kWh. The battery is coupled with a 113 hp electric motor. According to the WLTP standard, you can drive 320 kilometers with a full battery.

The electric car can be charged with a maximum of 100 kW using the fast charger. At this speed, you can charge the electric vehicle from 20 to 80 percent in 26 minutes. You can see more about the Citroën ë-C3 in the video below!