French Government Subsidy Level Of IDR 59 Million So People Switch From Gasoline Cars To E-Bike

French citizens are expected to switch to e-bikes. (photo: elektricbikereport.com)

JAKARTA - The French government has increased the size of the subsidy it offers to people who want to swap their gas-powered car for an electric bicycle by up to 4,000 euros (Rp59 million) per person. According to The Times, the money was intended to provide incentives for people to switch modes of transportation by ditching polluting vehicles in favor of cleaner and environmentally friendly alternatives.

People living in low-income households in low-emission urban zones who trade their cars will be eligible for a full 4,000 euros subsidy for e-bike purchases. Non-motorized traditional bicycles are also eligible for this incentive. French citizens from higher income groups can also claim smaller subsidies.

The subsidies, which were first introduced last year, were recently increased after officials decided that more had to be done to catch up with rival and bike-loving countries like the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.

The French government says it wants 9 percent of the country's population to switch to bicycles by 2024, compared to just 3 percent now. The Netherlands already boasts that 27 percent of its population is already using a bicycle.

The policy is modeled on a very successful program in Lithuania, where citizens are eligible for subsidies of up to 1,000 euros (Rp 14.7 million) for the purchase of new electric bicycles, scooters, mopeds, motorbikes or even public transport credits, after exchanging old vehicles. they.

But France isn't just spending money on individual incentives. Emmanuel Macron's government has also said it will invest 250 million euros to make Paris fully cycling.

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, also won re-election last year with a promise to add 130 kilometers of safe bicycle lanes over the next five years.

The news comes a week after US President Joe Biden signed a huge tax and climate bill that completely ignores the potential of e-bikes to combat climate change. The bill includes millions of dollars in EV tax credits but no money for e-bike incentives.