Free charging of your electric vehicle at work is over!
Free workplace charging should end. ©DR
The electric transition cannot be achieved without strong political will, whether we agree or not with these decisions. The end of the sale of new thermal vehicles in 2035 is one, ecological bonuses and various aids of all kinds around electric vehicles are others.
All, however, tend to diminish or disappear while successive governments look for savings to make. This will, most likely, be the case of free EV charging at the workplace.
The end of a tax advantage
Indeed, since 2020, companies could choose to offer charging stations to their employees, free of charge, which they could use for both professional and personal purposes, without it being considered an AEN (Benefit In Kind) .
The goal was clear, to encourage companies and employees alike to opt for electric mobility and it was a real plus for employees unable to have a terminal at their home. Employees did not pay for recharging, and no longer paid for fuel, an advantage for their budget which should end on December 31.
Companies will have to include electric charging costs in employee benefits in kind. ©DR
The system had already been extended by two years, at the end of 2022, in order to continue to push for electric. Unfortunately, in a complicated context for electric mobility, with a market share which is only increasing very timidly compared to 2023.
Future choices for businesses
The AENs on EVs are relatively important, such as the 50% reduction in taxes from which they benefit, which could disappear at the same time as this possibility of free charging. From January 1, 2025, the AENs will take into account the electricity consumed by the employee at their workplace.
Companies, like employees, will therefore have to rethink their strategy on the subject. The former, in addition to managing who has consumed what, will have to pay social security contributions, while the latter would see the benefit appear on their tax forms.
The same applies to charging stations (wallboxes) installed at the employee's home at the company's expense, the tax exemption for which will also be removed.
Both companies and employees could review their future investments in EVs and charging stations, in order to avoid administrative complications and future additional costs.
