FRANCE: In a week which saw public transport offered free of charge to reduce smog, which has choked the French capital, Pierre Mongin , CEO of RATP has announced it intends to convert its entire Paris bus fleet to electric propulsion in the next 10 years.
In an interview with Le Monde, Mr Mongin said: “I hope that by 2025 the entire bus fleet is electric. As shown by the debates of the election campaign, reinforced by what we experienced last week, there is now a demand for a transport system which is CO2 neutral.”
Mr Mongin said that this is the approach taken by London, where the urban bus network has been converted to diesel-electric hybrid propulsion – and where the RATP’s London United operation, has gained positive experience.
He said the price of hybrid bus has fallen sharply in the UK – something he expected could be mirrored in Paris. “Large orders are key. Our network had 4,500 buses to renew.”
