100% electric and hybrids represent the alternatives most favored by the French to turn their back, totally or partially, on traditional fuels whose prices have skyrocketed lately.
In fact, these two engines rank just behind gasoline engines (37.2% of new vehicle sales in France in January), with a third of new car buyers turning to hybrid models (of all types) since the beginning of the year, and 16% towards 100% electric. Well ahead of Diesel, which has fallen below 10%.
New LPG grows 40%
More confidential, but with notable success in recent years, LPG engines are still far from these market shares, with 3.2% of sales in 2023. But the more than 53,000 units delivered represent an increase of almost 40 % annual compared to last year. the same period.
Among the reasons for this success: some of the most popular compatible vehicles on the market. The Renault Clio, number one in sales for all engines combined, and Dacia’s “Eco-G” LPG range: Sandero, Jogger and Duster. Affordable models: the Sandero in dual gasoline-LPG version with 100 horsepower has a price from 14,150 euros, or 2,160 more than the 65 horsepower SCe gasoline version.
Another argument, perhaps the most important on a daily basis: the price of fuel, less than one euro per liter. “The fuel allows you to reduce your fuel budget by more than 35% compared to gasoline and diesel (although this fuel entails an increase in engine consumption of the order of less than 20%), notes in a French press release Gaz Liquides, the professional organization that represents the liquefied gas and biogas sector.
E85 is less attractive
A lower price at the pump is also the case for E85, a little more expensive than LPG (1 euro per liter in the latest reading, compared to 0.97 for LPG) with a similar level of excessive consumption.
Sales of the new models directly compatible with E85 (and that can also run on gasoline), offered by Ford and Jaguar Land Rover, have been divided almost threefold since the beginning of the year, to 3,721 units.
However, the installation of conversion boxes remains quite dynamic, according to a professional in the sector:
“Despite a certain acceptance in 2023 of paying for gasoline, which remains very expensive and often close to 2 euros per liter, as has been the case since March 2022, more than 3,200 motorists have made the smart decision in 2023 to transform your vehicle. to E85 with our box to preserve its purchasing power,” explains Alexis Landrieu, CEO of Biomotors.
It also highlights the aid that exists to convert a vehicle to E85:
“Thanks to aid from several regions of up to 500 euros, the possibility of waiving the price of the registration card when purchasing it and the advantageous financing offers offered by more than 850 installers of the Biomotors network, for many people convert their vehicle to E85 does not represent any investment.”
Used, preference for hybrid… or Diesel
A phenomenon of alternative fuels that we also find second-hand, with sales of models that run on gas (LPG or CNG) increasing by 18% to 23,672 units since the beginning of the year, according to market figures provided by Autoscout24. But the market share is still even lower than that of the new ones, at 0.5%, as well as that of the used E85 compatible models.
“Despite the clear gain at the pump, these alternative fuels remain marginal in the second-hand market. Given the sharp increase in gasoline vehicle prices in recent years that serves as a basis for these alternatives, the interest The economical cost of these fuels is probably low compared to the numerous diesel offers on the market,” explains Vincent Hancart, general director of Autoscout24 France.
Si on regarde les chiffres, le marché de l’occasion a en effect tendance à se polariser vers deux types de modèles: “une voiture récente chère chère essence (ou hybride) et une voiture plus approachable, âgée et principalement Diesel”, ajoute-t -He.
Source: BFM TV
