Reduce the consumption of non-renewable fuels and the pollution generated by travel: the aims are clear for all mobility stakeholders. There are many levers that can be applied to achieving these goals, but it is essential that all parties become involved in designing and implementing the appropriate innovative solutions. Industry and manufacturers are stepping up their efforts.
Transdev Eco & Mobility meeting
In the presence of Louis Nègre1, French Senator and rapporteur for the Energy Transition bill, Jean-Marc Janaillac, Chairman and CEO of Transdev, Laurence Broseta and Dominique Thillaud, President of the Executive Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, around one hundred customers, local elected officials and directors of technical services, met in Nice to discuss the main energy transition challenges facing public vehicles and public transit networks. The day was an opportunity for the attendees to learn about Nice Airport’s WATT system, the full-scale trial of an ultra-fast charge, fully electric bus service introduced by Transdev in November 2014.
New fuels (NGV and biogas), electric solutions (autonomy and fast charging), hybrid vehicles and hydrogen fuel, the impact of these new solutions on infrastructure costs and the golden rules for a good fleet transition strategy were the main topics addressed during the day.
The day was sponsored by Caisse des Dépôts, a pioneer in the climate change economy and committed to promoting the sustainable city. Pierre Ducret, Climate and COP 21 Special Advisor, detailed the issues surrounding COP 21, and Elizabeth Viola, Mediterranean Inter- Regional Director, outlined the Caisse des Dépôts’ funding solutions.
The first Low Emission Trans'Days
Continuing the discussion around the same topics, Transdev experts met on June 10 and 11, at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport for the first Low Emission Trans’Days at which 40 employees from eight countries shared their experience with 10 flagship projects including Elektrika in Bogota (Colombia), WATT in Nice (France) and T.eBus in Helsinki (Finland). Two transportation authorities were also present: STIB from Brussels (Belgium) and Foothill Transit from Greater Los Angeles, California (United States).
The aim of these two days was to provide an opportunity to discuss the variety of environmental solutions being trialed by the Transdev teams: fleet renewal with clean vehicles, adapting existing infrastructure to the electrification challenge, climate and regional specifics factored into zero emission technology choices, etc.
1 Louis Nègre is a Senator, Mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer and President of GART (French parliamentary association of transportation authorities).
About Transdev
A subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts and Veolia, Transdev is a world leader in mobility. Transdev guides and supports local transport authorities, from pre-project phase, to project support and development, to everyday operation of transport networks. With 83,000 employees in 20 countries, the group operates 43,000 vehicles and 22 light rail networks. In 2014, Transdev generated €6.6bn in turnover.
www.transdev.com