FR: Private funding scheme to electrify public transit

Total Direct Energie and Bolloré Energy fund a 36-million-euro scheme for electric buses and charging infrastructure called MoéBUS with partners. Public and private transit companies in France may now apply for subsidies.

With the new programme, Total’s and Bolloré’s energy divisions together with other organisers aim to bring 500 new electric buses onto the roads of France and to electrify 50 depots by 2020.

Targeting public or private transport organisers, the MoeBUS financing programme wants to help with the initial cost of electric bus solutions and to bring them closer to parity with petrol-powered counterparts.

A steering committee made up of the Directorate General for Energy, and Climate (DGEC), Ademe, Vertigo and its two funders Total Direct Energie et Bolloré Energy will overlook the applications and ultimately allocate funds.

Funding can cover the acquisition of electric buses and their batteries and also the necessary electrification and compliance of depots and workshops.

For buying buses, MoeBUS covers up to 30% of the amount (excluding VAT) for the first five buses purchased and then 15% for the next fives. There are also caps depending on vehicle type, i.e. a standard 12-metre bus 12 will not be funded with more than 150,000 euros. For articulated buses, the threshold rises to 200,000 euros.

For charging infrastructure at depots, the aid is limited to 10% of the total amount, up to a maximum of one million euros per depot. Only “slow charging” devices (for buses and trucks, between 30 and 150 kW) are eligible.

Applications for transit operators to get help with electric buses are open now.

avere-france.org, mobilitesmagazine.com, vertigo-energy.com (the programme)