FRANCE: Since 2016, Paris regional operator Île-de-France (ÎdF) Mobilités has been investing in the transition to greener vehicles, along with the associated infrastructure, and recently welcomed its 1,000th electric bus. As part of the project, the bus operations centre at Point du Jour in Paris’ 16th arrondissement has been converted to operate a fully electric fleet, enabling the gradual transition of 19 bus routes to electric power.
A total of €5.7 billion is being invested by ÎdF Mobilités for the conversion of its infrastructure as well as the renewal of buses, including €1.5 billion for the construction or conversion of bus depots and the same amount to fund the first 3,800 biomethane or electric vehicles. The remaining €2.7 billion will be used to support the renewal or conversion of the remaining fleet of 7,000 vehicles, with the objective of achieving a 100% eco-friendly fleet in dense urban areas by 2025 and across the region as a whole by 2029. The conversion of the Point du Jour bus depot, operated by RATP for Île-de-France Mobilités, was begun in 2021 and completed in August 2024. The work enabled the installation of high-voltage connections as well as 90 charging stations. In addition, fire safety has been reinforced with the installation of automatic fire extinguishing systems, smoke extraction and third-party protection devices.
To date, eight depots across the ÎdF Mobilités network operated by RATP have been converted to electric, with the work at Point du Jour costing around €28.6 million, funded with support from the European Commission. Grouped together with the Croix-Nivert bus centre to form a Paris South West operating unit, the Point du Jour centre is part of an RATP structure that operates 19 routes, transporting more than 40 million passengers each year. Croix-Nivert depot is scheduled to begin conversion to electric power soon. ÎdF Mobilités said the commissioning of its 1,000th electric bus marks the crossing of a symbolic threshold for its transformation. To mark the event, the bus wears a special livery and will be dedicated for the first month to route 52 between Parc de Saint-Cloud and Opéra–Rue Halévy.
Bus2025
Through the Bus2025 programme Île-de-France Mobilités and RATP have committed to converting 50% of bus depots to electric and 50% to biomethane fuel, a programme which has already enabled a 50% reduction in CO° emissions generated by bus traffic between 2015 and 2025.
“With more than 10,000 buses and coaches running every day in Île-de-France, changing engines is essential. We have taken our responsibilities by supporting new sectors for electric engines and bio-NGV and with very concrete results: in 2025, Île-de-France Mobilités will be the first network in the world to benefit from 100% decarbonised transport. This is a major public health issue for all residents of Île-de-France,” said Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region and Île-de-France Mobilités.
“The completion of the adaptation work on the Point du Jour bus centre and the commissioning of the 1,000th electric bus mark a decisive step for the Bus2025 programme led by RATP at the request of Île-de-France Mobilités. This programme represents one of the largest energy transition initiatives in the transport sector in Europe. It contributes directly to the objective set by Île-de-France Mobilités to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by bus traffic in the Île-de-France region by 50% between 2015 and 2025. I would like to thank all of our partners and funders, whose contribution is essential to enabling this ecological transformation,” added Jean Castex, Chairman and CEO of RATP.
