"We know that for many French [EVs] remain very expensive", said Budget Minister Gabriel Attal.

French car buyers can currently receive as much as €6,000 off electric vehicles that cost less than €47,000. Consumers can also take advantage of a federal trade-in program to get money for their old combustion-engine cars.

Despite those incentives, EVs only accounted for 12 percent of new vehicle sales in France during the first seven months of 2022.

Among low-cost EVs, the Dacia Spring is available for 120 euros a month in France with a long-term lease; the soon-to-be discontinued Nissan Leaf is available for 139 euros a month, as is the Fiat New 500; and the Renault Twingo for 150 euros a month.