The newly unveiled strategy targets France’s state-owned road network. Although it represents just around two per cent of the country’s total road kilometres, it carries one-third of all traffic and a large share of long-distance travel, according to the government. The so-called ‘Réseau routier national’ includes roughly 20,000 kilometres of motorways and national highways.The network currently hosts around 4,500 charging points across some 420 service areas. In addition, ‘nearly 7,500 fast-charging points’ operate along key routes on the non-concession road network, according to the French Ministry of Transport.The government plans a major ramp-up by 2035. It aims to install around 22,000 fast-charging points for passenger cars, each delivering 150 kW, spread across nearly 900 service and rest areas. Officials highlight that this equals a fivefold increase in capacity within ten years. They also plan to pick up the pace, with the Ministry of Transport targeting a rollout speed twice as fast as in the past five years.The French government is also targeting the first large-scale charging network for electric trucks. By 2035, it plans to install around 8,000 charging points for electric trucks across nearly 560 service and rest areas.According to the Ministry of Transport, the rollout will combine high-power charging of 400 kW and more than 800 kW with infrastructure for long dwell times. This includes charging stations with around 100 kW designed for extended parking.In total, the cumulative capacity available at motorway service areas is set to increase to around 2.8 gigawatts for passenger cars and 1.6 gigawatts for trucks. The strategy is the result of close coordination with all stakeholders, including interministerial road authorities, motorway operators, electricity grid operators, CPOs (Charging Point Operators), and associations. The master plan sets out specific milestones for 2027, 2030, and 2035, and includes additional chapters on grid connections and the redesign of service and rest areas.The document also sets requirements for service quality and access to charging stations, including mandatory interoperability for all charging stations—’both in terms of vehicle connection to the charging station and payment methods for subscribers,’ as stated. Additionally, users must be able to view the charging tariff per kilowatt-hour on-site and be guaranteed the ability to pay by credit card.“The breakthrough of electric vehicles depends on a charging network that meets requirements and guarantees carefree journeys for every user, even on medium and long distances,” Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said. “This is the goal of this strategy […]. It also heralds a new era by initiating the large-scale expansion of the first dedicated charging infrastructure for trucks […]. More charging stations, faster expansion, better service quality: this is the promise we make to road users.”From the government’s perspective, the master plan accelerates measures it launched back in 2021. At that time, France’s charging network along key transport corridors consisted of only a few hundred charging points. Since then, the concession-based section of the ‘Réseau routier national’ has expanded to around 4,500 units.“This expansion has made it possible to meet demand even during peak traffic periods, particularly in the summer of 2025. However, it must be further developed to keep pace with the growth of the electric vehicle fleet, which is now also suitable for long-distance travel,” said Tabarot.With the newly launched programme, France aims to position itself among Europe’s most advanced countries in long-distance charging infrastructure.This ambition is particularly relevant as the current French government aims for two out of three new cars to be electric by 2030. The state underpins this target with a subsidy policy that has been in place for years. Just last week, the country announced the third round of its social leasing programme, as well as a new electric vehicle subsidy for the middle class.ecologie.gouv.fr, ecologie.gouv.fr (Master Plan for Charging Infrastructure; both in French)