France is giving citizens $3,000 to get rid of their car and get an ebike

Matthew is the editor of SHIFT. He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls. Matthew is the editor of SHIFT. He likes electric cars, and other things with wheels, wings, or hulls.

France is one of the latest nations looking to offer a cash-for-clunkers incentive to get people out of their cars and onto more sustainable means of transport.

The European nation is offering residents €2,500 ($2,975) to trade in their old emission spewing car, and get an electric bicycle. Yes, an electric bicycle.

It’s not set in stone just yet, though.

Earlier this week, lawmakers in France approved the measure in a preliminary vote. The French Federation of Bicycle Users claims that if France does go ahead with the scheme, it would be the first nation in the world to give people money for old cars to put towards new electric bicycles, Reuters reports.

However, the organization must be leaving out crucial details as to how it reached that conclusion as there have been other similar schemes.

For example, as Martti Tulenheimo, chief specialist at the Finnish Cyclists‘ Federation points out, Finland has a similar rebate which citizens have used to fund more than 2,000 ebikes, 1,000 new low emission cars, and 100 public transport tickets.

💶♻️🚗 The Cash for Clunkers scheme is a success story in Finland – especially for e-bikes ⚡️🚲 With 1000€ rebate, 3200 applicants have so far opted for: 🚲 >2000 e-bikes

🚗 1000 newer cars with cleaner emissions

🚌 100 public transit tickets — Martti Tulenheimo (@tulenheimo) March 24, 2021

Lithuania also offered such a scheme last year. The nation’s Environmental Project Management Agency (APVA) offered residents €1,000 ($1,200) if they traded in their old cars. The money could then be used against anything from escooters, to ebikes, to public transport tickets.

The scheme was considered a success with more than 8,500 people applying for the grant.

Maybe France was just getting a bit giddy because the air quality isn’t as great as we think. Hopefully with this new grant, that will change soon enough.

Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up?

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