Would you like to switch to an electric vehicle without leaving your old model behind? It is now possible to transform a vehicle with a combustion engine, gasoline or diesel, into 100% electric. This conversion process has a name: retrofit. How to proceed? What is its cost? Our answers to your questions.
Retrofit: what are we talking about?
The Retrofit consists in removing the combustion engine from a vehicle (gasoline or diesel) and replacing it with an electric motor and a battery. Since April 4, 2020, it has been possible to carry out this conversion without the agreement of the manufacturer.
For reasons of road safety, the retrofit must be carried out by professionals established in France and who have obtained approval from UTAC (the central technical body for the technical inspection of vehicles). It must also comply with strict specifications in accordance with French regulations. In particular, this involves:
- maintain the original dimensions of the vehicle;
- not to exceed 20% weight variation after conversion;
- install an engine with a power equivalent to the original one.
Homologation certifies that the retrofitted vehicle meets the same standards as a new electric vehicle. After the intervention, he will receive a prototype approval and a transformation plate. The latter will be placed next to the car manufacturer's plate.
What vehicle can I retrofit?
To be eligible, the vehicle must:
- be more than 5 years old for vehicles in categories N (trucks and vans) and M (vehicles designed for the transport of passengers), and more than 3 years for category L (motorcycles and mopeds);
- have a heat engine. Vehicles that are already electric or hybrid are not affected.
How much does an electric retrofit cost?
The average cost of a conversion is between €15,000 and €20,000, but varies according to the type of model and the size of the batteries to be installed. It can start from €8,000 for small city vehicles and go up to several tens of thousands of euros for models with a high autonomy.
If this represents a budget, you should know that:
- this price is still two to three times lower than buying a new electric vehicle from a similar range;
- it is tending to gradually decrease due to the democratization of the electric car in France and technical advances;
- the investment makes it possible to achieve significant savings throughout the life of the vehicle.
In addition, thanks to this operation, you will be able to take advantage of the advantages reserved for electric vehicles, such as reduced use and maintenance costs, free parking depending on the city or the absence of traffic restrictions for polluting vehicles. Finally, you will not have to say goodbye to your vehicle: on the contrary, you are giving it a second lease of life without changing its road behavior and the power of its engine.
Did you know that?
The average cost of recharging an electric car is estimated between 2 and 3€ per 100 km, compared to 6 to 8€ for an internal combustion car.
Is there financial aid or an ecological bonus?
The retrofit does not allow you to be eligible for the ecological bonus, because it is an aid dedicated to the purchase of a new electric vehicle. However, the State has been offering a conversion bonus since June 1, 2020. Its amount is fixed at:
- €5,000 for a car whose owner is a natural person with a reference tax income (RFR) of less than €18,000;
- €2,500 for a car whose owner is a legal entity, or a natural person with an RFR greater than €18,000;
- €5,000 for a van;
- €1,100 for a two- or three-wheeled vehicle or a motorized quadricycle.
To benefit from this bonus, the owner must:
- have owned your vehicle for at least one year;
- do not sell it within six months after the retrofit or before having driven at least 6,000 kilometers.
You now have all the keys in hand to give your vehicle a new look and travel the roads without emitting air and noise pollution. To date, several professionals in France are authorized to carry out the retrofit. They are grouped together in the AIRE association (Actors in the electrical retrofit industry). To find out more, go to their site.
How do I charge my retrofitted vehicle?
Has your vehicle finally switched to an electric motor? Before you hit the road, you need to think of a way to recharge. A charging station is a compact piece of equipment that can be mounted on the wall or on the ground. Unlike a household outlet, it integrates a protection device and guarantees the proper functioning of your electrical installation.
Qovoltis offers charging stations for electric vehicles capable of adapting their power in real time to the power available on the electrical installation, as well as advantageous pricing per kWh consumed.
As beautiful as they are efficient, our terminals offer unique possibilities for optimizing and managing charging via a mobile application and are eligible for the Advenir program. To discover our charging services contact us !
Sources: eKwateur, Retrofuture, Ecologie.gouv.fr, Government.fr.
