Montpellier Metropolis will please some people in late 2023. In fact, since December 21, public transport is free throughout the city. Other good news, electric car owners will also get free onesbut this time for recharge.

If free transport is not subject to certain conditions, then recharging electric cars. This is reserved for residents of the 31 municipalities of the Metropolis. Another important point to pay attention to: only 3kW slow charging will be free.

Free but (very) slow charging

In other words, to charge the battery of one of the best-selling electric cars in France, the Peugeot e-208, and its 51 kWh battery, it will take more than 8 hours to go from 20 to 80%. It will be possible to recharge at 7.4 kW and 22 kW, but you will have to pay. But why did the people of Montpellier decide to promote slow charging?

Highlights of The Metropolis “an incentive approach that encourages a shift to greener modes of travel”all in “encouraging busy users to prefer public transport”.

A bad idea?

We are not necessarily convinced by this approach, because it will undoubtedly highlight the phenomenon of the “suction car” at charging stationsespecially since owners can’t be penalized because charging is so slow that they can leave it charging all night or all day without worrying about the usage fees that are usually charged if a fully charged EV continues to occupy a charging station.

This offer will be accessed through the M’Ticket app, offering customers the opportunity to benefit from reduced rates for top-ups above 3kW.

From the beginning of 2024 Metropolis plans to roll out 600 new charging points in public spaces. This total investment of €800,000 will benefit from a public contribution of €321,000.

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