FRANCE
Irizar e-mobility has signed an agreement with RATP in Paris to supply zero-emission electric buses in one of the largest electric bus purchasing projects in Europe. Irizar will supply its new generation battery-electric ie model, and expects to deliver 113 units in the first two years.
The 12-metre vehicles will be equipped with 350kWh Irizar batteries and will be slow charged in the depot. The electronics, communications and other main components and systems on the buses will use technology from within the Irizar Group.
“We’re very thankful to the RATP for the trust they’ve placed in us to renew their fleet of buses. Being able to implement our electromobility solutions in a city like Paris, which is a world leader in electromobility, is a major challenge and we couldn’t be more proud. Without a doubt it’s a very ambitious project that represents a big step forward in our position in the French market. And it reaffirms our strategy of providing solutions and turn-key services for sustainable, efficient, intelligent, accessible, safe and connected mass transit,” said General Director of Irizar e-mobility Imanol Rego.
As part of its strategy, Irizar e-mobility will have an after sales service in Paris managed by expert technicians and staff hired locally, which it says will in turn help generate local wealth and employment.
Irizar’s silent and environmentally friendly buses are part of the goals set by the City of Paris towards its transition to cleaner energy sources. The project is part of the RATP’s Bus2025 programme, which is financed by Île-de-France Mobilités and which aims to make all the buses operated by the RATP electric or biofuel by 2025, reducing the operator’s carbon footprint by 50% compared to 2015 levels.
Irizar says it is firmly committed to expanding within the French market. In 2016, the firm put the first 100% electric route into operation in Marseille with six electric buses, with others following. Three years later the company introduced a fleet of ultra-fast charging buses in Amiens, plus two more BRT projects in Aix-en-Provence and Bayonne. More recently, orders have been confirmed for Orleans and Strasbourg.
