In this new episode of SOLUTRANS OnAIR, Hervé Rébillon talks with Clément Molizon, General Delegate of AVERE-France. Together, they explore the key trends shaping the industrial and urban vehicle market in terms of electrification: the growing momentum of electric heavy-duty vehicles, charging infrastructure, and public policy relations. All of these topics will be central to the discussions at SOLUTRANS 2025.

Hervé Rébillon: You are the General Delegate of AVERE-France. Can you tell us more about the association and its mission?

 

ClémeClément Molizon: AVERE-France is a professional association that aims to promote electric mobility across all road transport segments, including light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). We bring together an ecosystem of 250 members — manufacturers, energy providers, charging infrastructure stakeholders, research institutes, and local authorities — to develop concrete solutions for transport electrification. We also manage an energy savings program called Advenir, which funds charging stations for heavy-duty vehicles.

 

Hervé Rébillon: Electric vehicle registrations seem to be falling, while electric trucks are seeing a rebound. Is this what you’re observing?

 

Clément Molizon: I’d say it’s not exactly a decline on one side nor a full rebound on the other. Recent months have been difficult for electric mobility, particularly in the light vehicle segment. However, this has affected the entire automotive sector. The EV market share has remained stable between 2023 and 2024 at around 17%. That’s not enough, and we need to return to exponential growth to meet our objectives.

Further insights: “Discover the SOLUTRANS 2025 conferences”

 

Hervé Rébillon: What about hybrid vehicles? Are we seeing a decline there as well?

 

Clément Molizon: Yes, especially in the light vehicle segment. Last year, we saw around 10,000 hybrids registered per month. This year, it’s closer to 4,000–5,000 units monthly. That’s largely due to current tax policies and the reintroduction of the weight-based penalty. These measures have had a negative impact.

 

Hervé Rébillon: Will C2E incentives help boost the electric commercial vehicle market?

 

Clément Molizon: We’re convinced they will! These incentives have been well received across the sector. They improve TCO by enabling companies to get direct financial support when acquiring a vehicle. The energy savings certificate is crucial today to help many players commit to the energy and ecological transition. However, we regret that incentives for LCVs weren’t raised as much as we hoped. It’s unfortunate because the offering — once criticized — is now mature! Around forty models are already on the market, and by next year, there will be more electric than internal combustion engine models.

 

Hervé Rébillon: Cost is a sticking point—especially for electric trucks. Is leasing a viable option?

 

Clément Molizon: Certainly, but we remain neutral regarding financing methods. Each case is unique, but leasing is clearly part of the available options for transporters. Today, we’re seeing committed hauliers testing vehicles, and after the test phase, some move toward larger acquisitions. Manufacturers are also very involved in this process and offer full support.

 

Hervé Rébillon: Electric mobility can’t progress without charging infrastructure. Are we seeing growth for truck charging stations?

 

Clément Molizon: We're starting to see the first electric truck charging stations being deployed across France. I attended a few inaugurations last year. However, in the short term, the priority remains depot charging or charging at the client’s premises. Today’s electric trucks are urban vehicles for short routes and are designed to be recharged overnight. 

 

Hervé Rébillon: Are your relations with public authorities smoother for trucks than for passenger cars?

 

Clément Molizon: They're good in both cases. We've always aimed to act as a key contact for public authorities by providing reliable information. Representing an ecosystem allows us to develop common ground and reflect the sector's direction. It also lets us work closely with public institutions to evolve the legislative, regulatory, and tax framework.