Intercity bus transport in French Alpes-Maritimes: transition to zero-emission completed in 2024

Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region is developing a strategy to improve transport provision and decarbonise the system in western Alpes-Maritimes. Target: zero emissions for regional transport as part of the “Une Cop d’Avance” climate plan. As reported on Nice Matin, the new e-buses are from Yutong and French Heuliez Bus. 46 Yutong Ice12 battery-electric coaches have been already launched on the network.

The region operates one of France’s biggest non-urban transport networks in Alpes-Maritimes, with over 12 million passengers a year. Working with its partner Keolis, the energy transition is under way with 123 electric vehicles, 107 of which are already operating. The transition will be completed during 2024 with the deployment of 16 electric double-decker buses.

Keolis for intercity electric bus transport

Région Sud, the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur regional council, is investing over €600 million a year in transport. With the first local inter-urban network in France to offer an electric service, the aim is to reduce CO2 emissions by 105,000 tonnes over the next eight years and to decarbonise all ZOU! regional buses by 2028. The region’s investment in the newly opened routes over the next eight years will amount to €281 million (excluding revenue), including an energy transition support grant of €24 million, Keolis says.

Yutong intercity coaches for France

The intercity buses were put into operation on the intercity lines from Nice Airport to Cannes, Monaco and Antibes. So far, Yutong states it has exported 135 battery electric intercity buses to France, with an operating mileage of nearly15 million kilometers, becoming a major supplier of battery electric buses in France.

“Zero emissions for our regional transport! This is one of the main targets of the ‘Une Cop d’Avance’ climate plan. To make this ambition a reality, Région Sud is deploying the only strategy of its kind in France to improve and decarbonise transport services. Developing clean, reliable, high-performance public transport will always be at the core of the region’s transport policy! With ZOU!, leave your car behind and travel on 100% clean transport!”, states Renaud Muselier, president of the ProvenceAlpes-Côte-d’Azur region and deputy chair of Régions de France

Marie-Ange Debon, chair of the Keolis Group board, states: “Keolis is proud to support the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region in its energy transition policy. We are working in close consultation with the region, and we share the same vision of the public transport service as a contributor to social cohesion, low-carbon mobility and dynamism for the economy and the tourism sector. Together, we are working to build a cleaner, more sustainable future for the region,”