French energy group EDF said it will provide 30 million euros ($32.7 million) in subsidies to help small and medium-sized businesses purchase electric heavy-duty trucks in France, as part of a broader push to accelerate the electrification of road freight transport.
The company said the program will offer an average subsidy of 15,000 euros per battery-electric heavy goods vehicle, with the funding available for both purchased and leased trucks. EDF said the grants can be combined with other French support schemes, including CEE and Advenir.
The initiative is intended to support the deployment of around 2,000 new electric trucks on French roads, EDF said.
Eligibility for the subsidy is limited to small and medium-sized enterprises, with each company able to claim support for a maximum of two vehicles. Applicants must already have truck charging infrastructure installed or commit to installing it, while retrofitted combustion-engine trucks will not qualify for the program.
In parallel, EDF said it will invest 50 million euros to deploy 180 charging stations for electric heavy-duty vehicles at 73 locations across France over the next three years. The charging sites will be publicly accessible and are intended primarily to support long-haul freight operations.
The measures form part of a broader 240 million euro electrification package unveiled by EDF as the company marks its 80th anniversary.
“With this €240 million financial commitment, EDF is taking concrete action to support households, transport operators and industrial players in electrifying their uses, and to encourage the establishment of new activities in France,” the company said in a statement.
EDF said only part of the 240 million euro package will be allocated to freight transport electrification. Another 80 million euros will be used to provide 80,000 low-income households with grants of 1,000 euros each to support heat pump installations, alongside existing government programs such as MaPrimeRénov.
The announcement comes as European governments and companies increase investments in electric freight transport infrastructure amid efforts to reduce emissions from the logistics sector.
