The French government is reportedly examining a series of new incentives and taxes to phase out polluting vehicles.

Environment and Energy Minister Nicolas Hulot told French newspaper Liberation the 2018 government budget presented next week would include a series of measures to limit climate change.

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The report said that Hulot is proposing a 500 to 1,000 euro incentive to switch to a less polluting vehicle (with the old vehicle scrapped). So far only available to low-income families, it should be available from 2018 to all citizens who own cars with petrol engines registered before 1997 and cars with diesel engines registered before 2001.

The report said the sum will not only be for buying new cars but also relatively new second-hand vehicles with low carbon dioxide emissions.

Hulot also told the paper that for low-income households the incentive would be doubled to 2,000 euros. He added that for a low-income family buying a small second-hand car, the incentive could add up to more than half of the vehicle's value.

All car owners who switch to an electric vehicle will receive a 2,500 euro switching incentive on top of a 6,000 euro subsidy if the measure is approved, the report said.

The French government has said that France will outlaw the sale of all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040.

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