Eco-score: a key indicator for fleet managers in the era of EPZs

Vehicle fleet management can no longer ignore the growing importance of environmental issues. With the gradual introduction of low-emission zones (ZFE)zones, the overhaul of the environmental bonus and growing regulatory pressure, the choice of vehicles is no longer based solely on purchase cost or fuel consumption. From now on, it's theeco-score - indicator of a vehicle's overall environmental impact - has become a central central criterion in fleet renewal decisions..

This index is not limited to CO₂ emissions. It evaluates the complete life cycle of a vehiclefrom manufacture through use to end-of-life. Above all, it directly conditions access to public subsidies. For companies, this represents a paradigm shift: no longer simply choosing between combustion and electric vehicles, but between virtuous vehicle and a vehicle excluded from public support.

Understand how the eco-score works, what it implies for fleet managers, and how to integrate it into an overall strategy of energy transition has become essential. In the years to come, it will make the difference between a controlled fleet and an obsolete one.

What is a vehicle's eco-score, and why is it crucial?

Companies can no longer implement a low-carbon mobility strategy blindly. The eco-score is now an essential management tool, at the crossroads of regulatory compliance, environmental performance and budget optimization.

A global environmental performance indicator

Unlike a conventional energy label, the eco-score is based on a multi-criteria assessment of a vehicle's overall environmental impact. It takes into account :

• CO₂ emissions generated over the entire life cycle (manufacture, use, end-of-life),
• of the vehicle's actual energy consumption,
• the origin and type of materials used (especially for batteries),
• the ability to recycle end-of-life components,
• vehicle durability and repairability.

The score, expressed out of 100, reflects the real sustainability of a model. It gives fleet managers a clear, standardized reading of the environmental performance of each vehicle analyzed.

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A structuring criterion for access to aid and urban mobility

In 2024, the eco-score becomes the condition for access to the ecological bonus for new electric vehicles. A model rated below 60/100 is excluded from any purchase aid, even if it emits no CO₂ from the tailpipe. This new requirement changes the game for companies integrating zero-emission vehicles into their fleets.

But the stakes don't stop there: the eco-score also prefigures future conditions of access to the ZFEs, which will be extended to more than 40 French conurbations. A vehicle that is not eligible for the bonus today could find its access to certain urban zones restricted in the future. For a fleet manager, this means having to plan more frequent renewals, or risk seeing certain vehicles unusable on critical sections of the territory.

By incorporating this indicator into their selection process now, fleet managers can ensure that their fleets are compatible with future regulatory requirements, while securing their investments through available subsidies.

How is a vehicle's eco-score calculated?

The eco-score is not a rough estimate: it is based on a rigorous methodology, defined by the French authorities with the support of ADEME. For fleet managers, understanding the calculation mechanisms enables them to better evaluate the models to be integrated into their fleets, and to anticipate their compliance over time.

A calculation based on the vehicle's entire life cycle

A vehicle's environmental score is calculated from a comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA), integrating all stages from design to disposal. Unlike traditional CO₂ criteria, limited to tailpipe emissions, the eco-score takes into account:

• Greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing, in particular those linked to the production of batteries for electric vehicles;
• Actual energy consumption, measured according to the WLTP standard, more representative of everyday use;
• The impact of the materials used, with a bonus for recycled or low-emission components, and a penalty for poorly traced critical resources;
• The ability to recycle different parts, an eco-design rationale that is increasingly expected;
• Estimated vehicle life, including robustness, repairability and availability of spare parts.

Each criterion is weighted according to its environmental impact. The final result, rated out of 100, is designed to be objective, comparable and transparent.

Monitoring thresholds to anticipate changes

The eligibility threshold for the ecological bonus is currently set at 60/100 for new electric cars. But this figure is set to change. The government's objective is clear: to encourage manufacturers to offer more fuel-efficient, recyclable and environmentally-friendly models.

For a fleet manager, this means that a model that is acceptable today may no longer be acceptable tomorrow. It's therefore essential to build a safety margin into your purchasing decisions: give preference to the best-rated models, keep up to date with updates to the official list, and avoid vehicles whose score is too close to the limit.

Last but not least, integrating the eco-score into the fleet management system helps toalign economic performance and regulatory compliance, two issues that are now inseparable when it comes to managing corporate mobility.

Which vehicles are eligible according to eco-score? Follow the right list

One of the major regulatory changes in 2024 is the introduction of an official list of vehicles eligible for the ecological bonus, based on their eco-score. This database is an indispensable tool for fleet managers, enabling them to efficiently filter out models that are compatible with the company's environmental and financial objectives.

A regularly updated public database

Available on the vehicules.eco.gouv.frthis official platform enables you to consult, in real time, the list of models with a score of 60/100 or higher, the threshold required to qualify for the bonus. Each vehicle details :

• the exact environmental score, calculated according to the national methodology;
• eligibility for the ecological bonus, clearly indicated;
• detailed technical information: range, consumption, weight, battery type, place of manufacture...

It's an essential tool for securing renewal choices: it enables us to check that the vehicle under consideration will indeed be subsidized, and that it complies with the thresholds likely to be required for entry into the EPZs in the years to come.

A selection of high-performance models for fleets

In 2024, several models widely used by professional fleets are among the top-rated. These include :

• the Renault Megane E-Tech, produced in France with a score of over 80 ;
• the Peugeot e-208, particularly energy-efficient;
• the Citroën ë-C4, which combines good autonomy with European manufacturing;
• the Tesla Model 3 (European versions), despite a significant impact on production, which is offset by optimized fuel consumption.

On the other hand, some 100% electric models fail to meet the required threshold. This is particularly true of vehicles produced outside Europe, or fitted with batteries from environmentally non-transparent sources.

For commercial vehicles and vehicles dedicated to professional transport, the criteria are currently being adapted. A specific grid will soon be implemented, which will require active monitoring on the part of fleet managers.

Why electric is still a strategic choice for fleets, despite new requirements

The introduction of the eco-score as an eligibility criterion could lead one to believe that electric vehicles are becoming more difficult to access. In reality, this development reinforces its long-term relevance, favoring the most virtuous models and consolidating its strategic advantage for professional fleets.

Electrics remain essential in a changing regulatory environment

With the gradual introduction of low-emission zones (LEZ) in all urban areas with more than 150,000 inhabitants, a vehicle's ability to circulate without restriction is becoming as important a criterion as its total cost of ownership. And on this point, electric vehicles remain the only universally accepted motorization.

Thermal vehicles, even the most recent, are seeing their window of use close. Fleet managers therefore need to think ahead: buying an electric vehicle today that complies with environmental standards means guaranteeing mobility throughout the country for many years to come.

A lever for controlling usage costs and strengthening CSR

In addition to purchase subsidies, electric vehicles can significantly reduce running costs, including fuel, maintenance and tax. And the eco-score provides an additional yardstick for making the right investment choices.

It's also a vehicle for CSR communication: principals, customers and even employees expect companies to take concrete action to reduce their carbon footprint. A well-chosen electric fleet, eligible for bonuses and compliant with future ZFE standards, becomes a competitive advantage that goes beyond mere compliance.

Optimizing your fleet with the eco-score: the challenge of expertise

Faced with the growing complexity of environmental criteria, fleet managers needreliable tools and specialized partners to make the right decisions. This is where Bump comes in.

As a committed player in electric mobility, Bump supports companies in :

• choosing vehicles according to their environmental score and actual use;
• optimizing charging infrastructure at the depot or on the road;
• energy cost management;
• and compliance with current and future regulatory requirements.

Thanks to its integrated, performance-oriented approach, Bump helps fleet managers turn a regulatory constraint into a strategic opportunity.

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