Useful information

Icône mise à jour Last updated 11 December 2025

The “Electric HGVs - Regional” section contains information on electric HGVs, road tractors and 19T “all-battery” rigids used in regional transport.

The CNR has published a study entitled “All-electric industrial vehicle” bringing together useful information for road hauliers preparing to invest in electric commercial vehicles. This study summarises information gathered from hauliers operating electric vehicles, manufacturers and recognised reports on the subject. It includes, in particular, statistics on the French fleet of electric commercial vehicles, the functioning of the electricity market, the specific taxes applied to this energy source, and the challenges faced by hauliers in connecting their depots and installing charging points. The various support schemes put in place by the government – including accelerated depreciation for the vehicles, an environmental bonus and grants for the installation of charging points – are also documented.
At the end of this document, the CNR provides estimates of the operating costs of electric commercial vehicles (heavy goods vehicles and light commercial vehicles), which are also set out in the tables below.

Profiles based on interviews conducted by the CNR with a limited number of transport companies operating electric tractors. The information collected (e.g. equipment prices) was cross-checked with other sources. Certain key values, such as the vehicle's annual mileage, were calculated using econometric modelling (simulation). Others were derived from data provided by manufacturers or recognised official reports. The choice of variables relating to the operating conditions of electric vehicles (energy and equipment prices, battery and terminal power, etc.) has a significant impact on the cost price. There is a wide dispersion in electricity prices, which can vary significantly depending on factors such as high price volatility, which is very sensitive to geopolitical events, weather conditions, etc. These tariffs also depend on companies' negotiating power. At the beginning of 2024, particularly in the ‘heavy’ sector, the use of electric vehicles by transport companies is still very rare, making it impossible to define standards. The cost estimates presented correspond to specific cases of use that cannot be generalised.

Hypotheses

  • Regional joint venture
  • 19-tonne electric truck for regional transport
  • Deposit fee
  • One charge per day
  • Energy costs: rates observed over the last 12 months
  • Low case: €0.15/kWh: rate observed for carriers handling large volumes and/or having negotiated during favorable periods
  • Blue tariff (June 2024): €0.2047/kWh
  • High case: €0.40/kWh: rate observed for carriers handling low volumes and/or having negotiated during unfavorable periods.
  • Vehicle costs
  • The costs of the terminal and its installation
  • Maintenance, repair and tyre costs
  • Insurance costs
  • Axle tax

Due to the wide variety of cases, the following costs have not been included in the simulations. To assess these costs, each carrier must evaluate its own situation, taking into account the operating characteristics of the service envisaged. These characteristics are particularly decisive in calculating the cost price for an electric vehicle.

  • Driver costs: without sector-specific survey data, the CNR does not know how drivers' working hours are divided (driving time and other time). The vehicle's limited daily range requires the company to have a specific organization in terms of its refueling strategy (recharging at the depot, while on the road, during the day, at night, etc.) and the human resources assigned to it.
  • Structural costs: without sector-specific survey data, the CNR does not know the nature of certain specific structural costs, such as those related to personnel dedicated to the operation of electric vehicles, their training, specific facilities or equipment, maintenance of premises, insurance for premises, etc.
  • The costs of connecting to the electricity grid, which vary depending on the power required and the geographical location of the site, would likely be included in the structural costs.
  • Highway toll costs.
  • Vehicle depreciation allowance (corporate tax rate: 25%): due to possible restrictions on eligibility for this aid (taxable income and de minimis rule), the CNR presents simulations with and without the depreciation allowance.
  • Incentives for installing charging stations

Estimating vehicle operating costs

REGIONALARTICULATED ASSEMBLY 44 TCOMMENTS
Parameters of the selected profile - values for December 2023 except for energy (see assumptions above)
Vehicle operation (days/year)238,2Hypothesis, same as REG EA diesel fuel survey
Annual mileage (km/year)71 490Annual mileage (theoretical) of the vehicle determined based on the maximum daily range of the vehicle on a single charge and the number of days the vehicle is in operation.
Battery pack capacity (kWh/h)5406 packs of 90 kWh
Payload (ton)27Bonus of 2 tons included. The weight of the vehicle and its payload vary greatly depending on the battery pack and the technology used by manufacturers.
Vehicle shelf life + battery pack (years)8Survey data
Fuel consumption (kWh/100 km)130Task Force Reference Value
Vehicle range (km)300Manufacturer's data. The vehicle's range depends on the capacity of the battery packs and consumption.
Energy cost (€/kWh)0,15000,20470,4000
Vehicle purchase cost before subsidies (€)189 025Survey data
Cost of battery pack before subsidies (€)156 600Survey data
Cost of 150 kW charging station before subsidies (€)110 000Survey data. Installation and configuration included. Not included: cost of electrical connection, which varies depending on the power required and the geographical location of the site.
Cost components: annual total
Tractor ownership (€/year)With accelerated depreciation
40 669		Without accelerated depreciation
44 989		Aid retained with accelerated depreciation: 40% spread over the useful life of the complete vehicle (chassis + engine + battery). Corporate income tax rate retained: 25%.
Semi-trailer storage (€/year)4 415Hypothesis, same as REG EA diesel fuel survey
Energy (€/year)13 94119 02437 175See assumptions above
Maintenance and repairs (€/year)7 292Hypothesis, same as REG EA diesel fuel survey
Tires (€/year)2 502Hypothesis, same as REG EA diesel fuel survey
Taxes (€/year)516Hypothesis, same as REG EA diesel fuel survey
Terminal (€/year)1 627Aid granted: subsidy for the installation of charging stations: 50% of the investment cost, up to a maximum of €15,000 excluding VAT. Amortization period: 20 years, financing period: 8 years. 3.3 vehicles charged per station over a 12-hour period.
Insurance (€/year)7 778Based on the known insurance cost for a diesel vehicle, the CNR determines the insurance cost for the electric vehicle (chassis + motor + battery pack) by applying proportionality between the costs of the vehicles.
Operating cost (excluding driver, structural costs, tolls)

Annual total with accelerated depreciation (€/year)

78 73983 822101 973See assumptions above

Annual total without accelerated depreciation (€/year)

83 05983 822106 293See assumptions above
REGIONALCARRIER 19 TCOMMENTS
Parameters of the selected profile - values for December 2023 except for energy (see assumptions above)
Vehicle operation (days/year)220Survey data
Annual mileage (km/year)44 000Annual mileage (theoretical) of the vehicle determined based on the maximum daily range of the vehicle on a single charge and the number of days the vehicle is in operation.
Battery pack capacity (kWh/h)3764 packs of 94 kWh
Payload (ton)11Bonus of 2 tons included. The weight of the vehicle and its payload vary greatly depending on the battery pack and the technology used by manufacturers.
Vehicle shelf life + battery pack (years)8Survey data
Fuel consumption (kWh/100 km)100Task Force Reference Value
Vehicle range (km)200Manufacturer's data. The vehicle's range depends on the capacity of the battery packs and consumption.
Energy cost (€/kWh)0,15000,20470,4000See assumptions above
Vehicle purchase cost before subsidies (€)190 960Survey data
Cost of battery pack before subsidies (€)109 040Survey data
Cost of 150 kW charging station before subsidies (€)110 000Survey data. Installation and configuration included. Not included: cost of electrical connection, which varies depending on the power required and the geographical location of the site.
Cost components: annual total
Detention (€/year)With accelerated depreciation 34,807Without accelerated depreciation 40,502Aid retained with accelerated depreciation: 40% spread over the useful life of the complete vehicle (chassis + engine + battery). Corporate income tax rate retained: 25%.
Energy (€/year)6 6009 00717 600See assumptions above
Maintenance and repairs (€/year)5 192Survey data
Tires (€/year)1 100Survey data
Taxes (€/year)124Annual tax on heavy vehicles (formerly axle tax).
Terminal (€/year)1 133Aid granted: subsidy for the installation of charging stations: 50% of the investment cost, up to a maximum of €15,000 excluding VAT. Amortization period: 20 years, financing period: 8 years. 4.8 vehicles charged per station over a 12-hour period.
Insurance (€/year)6 220Based on the known insurance cost for a diesel vehicle, the CNR determines the insurance cost for the electric vehicle (chassis + motor + battery pack) by applying proportionality between the costs of the vehicles.
Operating cost (excluding driver, structural costs, tolls)

Annual total with over-depreciation (€/year)

55 17657 58366 176See assumptions above

Annual total without over-amortisation (€/year)

60 87163 27871 871See assumptions above

See also

2 Jul
2024

All-electric industrial vehicles

All-electric industrial vehicles

This study brings together useful information for road haulage operators wishing to invest in electric commercial vehicles. In particular, you will find: statistics on the French fleet of electric commercial vehicles, on how the electricity market operates, on the specific taxes applied to this form of energy, and on the challenges facing hauliers in the […]

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