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.
I love your enthusiasm for wanting to rent an EV. We have one at home and find it easy to navigate. What I saw in France a couple of years ago, is that many of the charging stations are at gas stations. Which makes sense, right? I recommend you download plugshare, a crowd sourced app that shows you where all the charging stations are. You'd be amazed. I think all EVs in Europe are standard for CCS chargers. Let us know what you find, because I'd love to hear your experience.
In France, today, hardly any EV chargers are at gas stations. They're at supermarkets, hypermarchés, large public lots, and even fairly small towns have chargers; often near the Mairie. I'm surprised to read your response because I don't recall ever seeing one at a gas station.
I don't recall ever seeing one at a gas station.
I think sue meant highway gas stations, which do indeed have quite a few charging stations.
Thankfully, we will primarily be on highways from Charles de Gaulle to Vimy Ridge, then Normandie Beaches, Mont St Michel and back in a few days. We are driving in this area (not South or Nice). Fingers crossed this clarifies a bit about the EV question.
BTW, charging EVs in British Columbia Canada is really easy now!
Thank you.
Considering an EV (Renault 4 E-Tech) as well, I’ve driven one in the US since 2024, and have taken a 1400 mile road trip. I kept track of the density of EV charging in my 2022 & 2025 visits to France, and seems the number of charging stations is there.
Isn’t much of the payment frustration resolved by one or more EV Charging card?
Les vols de câbles sur les bornes de recharge pour véhicules électriques (VE), motivés par la revente du cuivre, sont un véritable fléau. Une simple pince coupe-boulon ou disqueuse suffit aux malfaiteurs pour sectionner le câble en quelques secondes, dans l'espoir de revendre le métal.
I think sue meant highway gas stations, which do indeed have quite a few charging stations.
Ah, the aires on Autoroutes. Yes, they have chargers. I didn't think of that because I rarely take Autoroutes.
But most of them in France are in places other than Autoroute aires.
