Free parking for your electric car, where and how to get it?
Now is the time for green mobility so that each entity, each individual contributes to its advancement. Alongside the improvement of the autonomy of the electric car, the massive deployment of charging stations across France, there is now question of the parking of electric cars. In addition to aid for the purchase of an electric vehicle , many cities have adopted a policy of free parking for electric cars . Is your city concerned? And how does this device work? Caroom guides you through this article.
Free parking for your electric vehicle, myth or reality?
It is true that in order to avoid fines wherever you take your electric car, you must know the places where you are going to park. Note that there are two types of parking for electric vehicles.
Extended parking
It is a parking method that receives electric cars that must stay longer than the duration of their recharge . This is the case for the parking spaces provided at airports. In Paris, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports have added places to accommodate electric vehicles for traveling passengers. Parking is not free, but can be cheaply through a subscription system .
Parking dedicated to recharging
These are spaces reserved exclusively for electric vehicles that will recharge their battery at a terminal. They are free, but no car may park beyond the indicated charging time (eg: 30 minutes). These locations are recognized by regulatory prohibition signs with the words “except electric vehicles”, added with a pictogram representing an electric vehicle. The signage is also accompanied by a marking on the ground. We find these signals in:
- supermarket car parks;
- the car parks of shops;
- restaurant parking lots;
- hotel car parks;
- and parking lots for charging stations.
- As you own an electric car, you are one of the people who care about the environment, which is an important point. In fact, most town halls, and in particular those of large cities, encourage citizens to drive clean cars by offering them free parking in certain places such as on the streets and in public car parks.To benefit from this free parking, a certain procedure must be followed depending on the city. Other initiatives have also been put in place with the same objective. Among these, the Green Disc . This is a device that allows owners of ecological vehicles (electric car, plug-in hybrid vehicle, CNG, LPG, flexfuel E85, carsharing, hydrogen or even micro city cars of less than 3 m), residing in the participating cities of take advantage of free on-street parking for 2 hours .
Which cities offer free parking?
If you are lucky enough to live in the cities listed below, you must prepare yourself to benefit from the free parking facilities offered.
Free parking for electric vehicles in Paris
Electro-mobile workers, whether residents or visitors, have the right to park their electric vehicles free of charge in Paris. But this favor must be justified by a virtual “low emission vehicle” card .
Thus, visitors with electric vehicles registered in the town hall database can park at the same location for 6 consecutive hours . Parking is controlled by a European disc. For Parisians, they have the possibility of parking for free for 7 consecutive days in the same parking space . While professionals with ecological cars can park for 7 consecutive hours in car parks , thanks to the “PRO mobile in Paris” card and a whole day with the “PRO sedentary in Paris” card.
Be aware that without these cards, you risk having an electric car parking fine of € 50 , or even more if you park wildly in Paris.
Free parking for electric vehicles in Lyon
Although parking in Lyon is not free, the town hall does apply preferential rates to owners of electric or hybrid cars . Thus, if thermal cars must pay 40 € / year, electric vehicles and hybrids only pay half, or 20 € / year. A residential card is required to benefit from it.
Free parking for electric vehicles in Nice
The metropolis of Nice has introduced a policy of free parking in all streets , for cars with zero CO2 emissions. However, thermal vehicles are subject to a parking fee of 165 euros per year.
Free parking for electric vehicles in Aix-en-Provence
Like vehicles for people with reduced mobility and vehicles for health personnel working at home, electric cars can be parked on the street for free . Remember that thermal vehicles must subscribe annually to pay for parking spaces. For example, for parking in dense areas, the parking rate costs 360 € / year.
Free parking for electric vehicles in Marseille
The city of Marseille applies preferential parking rates . If the owners of thermal vehicles must honor 130 € / year, those of electric cars pay only 65 € / year.
The cities that have signed the “Green Disk” project
Created in 2008, the Green Disc is an effective tool to help town halls guide their fellow citizens to opt for green mobility. From north to south, here are the signatory cities:
- Saint Omer (59)
- Hazebrouck (59)
- Arras (62)
- Creil (60)
- Noisy-le-Sec (93)
- Doves (92)
- Reims (51)
- Puteaux (92)
- Valves (56)
- Seals (92)
- Nemours (77)
- Orleans (45)
- Brive (19)
- Chamalieres (63)
- La Motte-Servolex (73)
- Angouleme (17)
- Tassin-la-Demi-Lune (69)
- Vienna (38)
- Bordeaux (33)
- Avignon (84)
- Ales (30)
- Cannes (06)
- Vence (06)
With the exception of Creil and Bordeaux , all the cities have signed a networking charter with the Association of Ecological Cars (AVE), so that their citizens can use their green discs in all the signatory cities.
But in concrete terms, how can you be entitled to free parking in large cities?
And what steps to get there?
To access the free parking for electric vehicles, you must create a file to provide to the town hall providing for this benefit. Usually, the required documents are:
- the grey card ;
- an ID ;
- proof of vehicle;
- housing tax or rental lease;
- the electric car rental contract if it is rented under LLD or LOA;
- and a certificate from the employer if the vehicle is a function model.
You can send the complete file by post. But you are also able to apply for a parking card directly on the town hall’s website .
To obtain the green disc, same procedure, but you must also pay 5 euros for the disc and the printing of the pastille to stick on the windshield . Applications can also be made online.
The main thing to remember
Whether you have a green disk or a parking card for electric cars, you can now park in the streets of several cities in France for free. However, be sure to register with the town hall beforehand, if you are passing through the city concerned. If you are still hesitating to go electric, know that many purchasing aids have been put in place such as the ecological bonus and that auto insurance for electric cars is sometimes cheaper. The electricity suppliers also offer deals for electric vehicles . Enjoy it! And if you are a business, what are the benefits of going electric?
And you, do you have access to free parking in your city? If so, have you requested it? Share your experience with us in the comments!
