Hello, next Spring, we are planning a northern/northwestern France trip. We hope to fly into Charle de Gaulle airport. From there, we hope to rent a car for a four day road trip. We would like to see Chantilly, Vimy Ridge, Normandy and Mont Saint Michel.
Today, in 2026, is it feasible to rent an EV car or should we rent a gas car?
Thank you.
We live in northern France and, earlier this year, took a trip to southern France and Italy for a break. We traveled there by train, with the intent to rent a car in Nice upon arrival.
Last year, our car was rear-ended by another driver as we were making a left turn on a rural road in Normandie. The shop doing our repairs lent us a Peugeot e208 for a few days while our car was fixed up. It was a nice experience and I had no problem charging it in the evening off of our house current.
So, enthusiastic for another electric car experience, I reserved an electric car for our visit to Nice.
It was a disaster.
I spent several hours the day after I picked up the car trying to charge it. One charge station was inoperable. Other charge stations wouldn't clear my French debit card (BNP Paribas -- the largest bank in France) to purchase electricity. I tried two U.S. cards -- one a debit card and one a credit card, both from different financial institutions -- yet neither could work to buy electrons to charge my poor rental.
The next morning, I wheezed into Nice on a low charge and turned the electric car back in; exchanging it for a hybrid. I had no problems after that and had to purchase very little gasoline.
It seems, and this is one person's experience, that French charging stations are better suited to those with an ongoing subscription and do not do well with one-off charging requests, such as would be associated with someone renting an electric car.
At this point, I would not rent an electric car in France, and I speak French (well, pretty well), I read French (even better), and I have a French bank account at a large bank with a French debit card..
A tourist from another country who doesn't have those things would have an even worse experience, I would think.
Unless you relish spending hours (literally) of your vacation on the phone with charging companies and your bank(s) trying to buy electrons, I would advise not renting an electric car at this point in France. Things may improve in the future. For now, it would be a bad choice.
