Among the many questions that motorists considering switching to electric cars have, the amount of the ecological bonus they are entitled to often comes up. In particular, with what salary can one qualify for the maximum assistance of €7,000? A legitimate question, but one that turns out to be more technical than it seems.
Established in 2008, the ecological bonus is a tax method to combat greenhouse gas emissions aimed at directing purchases towards vehicles with lower CO2 emissions. Although it is intended to disappear with the increase in the number of electric cars, it is still at €4,000 in 2024. It can even go up to €7,000 if the taxable reference income (RFR) per part of the acquirer is less than €15,400. So, can we deduce the maximum salary entitling to this “super” bonus from that information?
Difference between salary and RFR
Before attempting to answer the question posed, it is necessary to distinguish between salary and RFR. While the RFR is indeed calculated from the taxable net income, other components come into play. This includes some income exempt from tax, income subject to a flat-rate levy, as well as specific deductions and charges. In other words, even with the minimum wage, it is technically possible to have a high RFR and therefore, consequently, not be eligible for the increased ecological bonus. However, when one receives no income other than a salary or a retirement pension, the RFR is identical to the taxable net income.
Another subtlety, the RFR takes into account the composition of the household. If the household consists of a single person, the RFR is that of this person. If the household consists of parents with their children, then the RFR is divided by the number of parts of the household. In other words, the more parts there are in the household, the more the RFR/part tends to decrease. It is therefore possible to have an RFR/part within the eligibility zone, even with a high salary.
This is why starting from the salary alone can be tricky. Once one is aware of this, it is still possible to try to answer the question by simulating typical situations.
Theory
To establish a maximum income based on the typical composition of the household, it must be assumed that the salary is the only income taken into account in the calculation of the RFR.
From there, and among the typical households, there are those composed of a single adult. Taking into account the flat-rate deduction of 10% that is automatically subtracted from the salary (unless actual expenses are declared), the annual household income must not exceed €17,111, i.e., €1,425 per month. This is slightly higher than the minimum wage, which is €1,398.70.
Next is the couple without children. Following the same procedure as for the single adult, the annual household income must not exceed €34,222 this time. This also corresponds to a salary of €1,425 per month per person (in the situation where both earners earn the same amount). In all cases, the sum of the two salaries must not exceed €2,852 per month. This also means that if there is only one earner in the couple, they can afford to earn this salary alone.
If this couple has one child, the number of parts increases to 2.5 and the annual household income can go up to €42,777. This then corresponds to two monthly salaries of €1,782 each (always equally divided), with the total of the two not exceeding €3,564 per month. With two children, the monthly total should not exceed €4,277, and with three children, it would be €5,704. Each additional child counts as an additional part in the household. Of course, other situations exist, such as a single person with one or more dependent children. However, it is difficult to list them all here.
| Household Composition | Parts | Maximum Annual Household Income (€) | Maximum Monthly Household Income (€) |
| Single | 1 | 17,111 | 1,425 |
| Couple | 2 | 34,222 | 2,852 |
| Couple with 1 Child | 2.5 | 42,777 | 3,564 |
| Couple with 2 Children | 3 | 51,333 | 4,277 |
| Couple with 3 Children | 4 | 68,444 | 5,704 |
In conclusion, it is evident that the composition of the household directly affects the maximum monthly salary. Moreover, if there is only one earner in the couple, their salary will appear high. To better understand the theory, consider an example close to reality.
Concrete Example
Let’s imagine a married couple earning together €4,200, with two dependent children. Assuming this couple has no other income than their salaries, the RFR per part of the household amounts to €15,120. In detail, this is calculated as: (4,200 x 12 x 0.9) / 3. This value makes them eligible for the maximum assistance of €7,000. However, in reality, the ecological bonus is not the only help this family can claim…
Indeed, let’s say they live in Seine-et-Marne, the mother works more than 30 km from home, and decides to order a Renault Scenic Grande Autonomie to replace a 2010 Peugeot 207 diesel. The amount of assistance they are entitled to then rises to €16,500. In detail, this includes €7,000 of ecological bonus, €4,500 of Île-de-France Region extra premium, and €5,000 of scrappage bonus. Ultimately, this new electric car costs not €46,990 in its Techno version, but €30,490.
And if this same couple earned €400 less, the total aid would increase to €19,500. The additional premium would increase from €4,500 to €7,500 in this case. With this scenario, the couple could qualify for the purchase of a Renault Megane 220 hp AC7 Techno for €20,500 instead of the €40,000 catalog price, equivalent to the price of a 90 hp petrol Clio, also in Techno trim. Again, it is emphasized here that this is a simplified example and, to know if you are entitled to the various maximum aids, only the taxable reference income stated on your latest tax assessment is valid.
Furthermore, this example shows how government assistance can trigger the switch to electric cars. It is also worth noting that these aids are primarily designed to help the less affluent take the step. This is particularly the goal of the social leasing launched this year. One can only hope that it has indeed benefited those who needed it most…