The State of the French EVCI Market in 2025
In January 2025, France had over 130,000 publicly accessible charging points, making it the 3rd largest European market behind the Netherlands and Germany. With 1.5 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in circulation, the charging station-to-EV ratio remains insufficient compared to European standards, meaning the market is far from saturated. The government maintains the target of 400,000 public charging points by 2030, requiring annual growth of 40,000 new points.
The AFIR Directive: A Structuring Framework for the Market
The AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) directive, applicable since April 2024, imposes precise obligations in France:
- A charging point of at least 400 kW every 60 km on the core TEN-T network by the end of 2025
- A charging point of at least 600 kW every 60 km on the extended network by the end of 2027
- Subscription-free payment obligations (bank card or contactless) on all new charging points
- OCPP 2.0.1 interoperability for all new equipment
Regulatory Obligations Creating Market Demand
Beyond AFIR, several French legal obligations generate structural demand:
LOM (Mobility Orientation Law): car parks with more than 20 spaces in new non-residential buildings must be equipped with EVCI pre-wiring from construction. Existing buildings undergoing major works are also covered.
Tertiary decree and commercial real estate: large property portfolio owners now integrate EVCI into their renovation plans to maintain the attractiveness of their assets.
Corporate fleets: with the fleet greening obligation (25% EVs in renewals from 2025 for large fleets), companies are investing heavily in EVCI installations at their sites.
Dominant Economic Models in France
The French market has structured itself around three main models. The CPO (Charge Point Operator) model: players such as TotalEnergies, Engie, IZIVIA or Freshmile invest in and operate their own networks, monetising the energy sold. The EMSP (E-Mobility Service Provider) model: players such as Chargemap or Zeplug aggregate access to multiple networks for end users. And the turnkey B2B model: installation, maintenance and delegated management for companies and co-ownerships, the fastest-growing model in 2024-2025.
Specific Opportunities for New Entrants
Despite the presence of established players, several niches remain underexploited: rural and semi-rural areas (less profitable but benefiting from specific subsidies via the ADVENIR Rural programme), light commercial vehicle (LCV) fleets requiring medium-power charging stations (22-50 kW) rather than fast chargers, and residential co-ownerships where legal complexity (right to a charging point, co-ownership regulations) creates demand for specialised advisory. MASOF Consulting supports operators seeking to position themselves in the French market with in-depth knowledge of these specificities.