Paris public transport operator RATP puts 1,000th electric bus into service

RATP in Paris has reached an essential symbolic milestone by commissioning its 1,000th electric bus. The anniversary model – brand Heuliez – has been given a special livery to mark the occasion. In addition to the 1,000 electric buses, RATP currently operates 1,320 biomethane buses and other hybrid and diesel vehicles in the French capital. As part of the ‘Bus2025’ programme, 70 per cent of the fleet is now electric, biomethane or hybrid buses, according to the company.

Île-de-France Mobilités aims to achieve a “100% clean bus fleet” in densely populated areas by 2025 and in the entire capital region by 2029, making the Île-de-France region “a global reference for public transport with very low CO2 emissions.” According to those responsible, more than 4,000 clean vehicles (electric or biomethane) are already on the road in the entire Île-de-France region. This effort is said to have already reduced the CO2 emissions caused by bus transport by 50 per cent between 2015 and 2025.

The public transport authority has calculated a total investment volume of 5.7 billion euros for the development of infrastructure and the renewal of buses, including 1.5 billion euros for the construction or conversion of depots, 1.5 billion euros for the first 3,800 biomethane or electric vehicles and 2.7 billion euros for the renewal or conversion of the remaining 7,000 vehicles. The EU co-finances the electrification of bus depots and the procurement of 300 electric buses with around 55 million euros.

So far, those responsible say they have electrified eight bus depots in and around Paris – at the Nation, Corentin, Lilas, Pleyel, Lebrun, Vitry, Malakoff, and now Point du Jour. Ten depots have also been equipped to accommodate biomethane buses (Créteil, Bussy-St-Martin, Massy, Nanterre, Thiais, Aubervilliers, Flandre, Saint-Maur, Pavillons-sous-Bois and Fontenay). With regard to the Point du Jour site, Île-de-France Mobilités explains that the conversion was carried out between 2021 and August 2024 and was subsidised by the authority to the tune of 29 million euros. The site now has high-voltage connections, a new power distribution system and 90 charging stations. Enedis was responsible for installing the energy systems.

“The Point du Jour bus hub, which has been merged with the Croix-Nivert bus hub to form the Paris Sud-Ouest unit, is part of an RATP structure that operates 19 bus routes,” the initiators added. The Croix-Nivert bus centre will also be converted to electric buses in the first half of 2025.

Valérie Pécresse, President of the Île-de-France region and of Île-de-France Mobilités, describes the drive transition as a major step forward given the more than 10,000 buses and coaches travelling every day in the Île-de-France region: “We have taken our responsibility by supporting new sectors for electric propulsion and bio-GNV, with very concrete results: by 2025, Île-de-France Mobilités will be the first network in the world to benefit from 100% carbon-free transport!”

Jean Castex, President and Chief Executive Officer of RATP, adds: “The completion of the Point du Jour bus centre and the commissioning of the 1000th electric bus represent a key stage in the Bus2025 programme, which RATP is implementing on behalf of Île-de-France Mobilités.” The programme is one of the largest energy transition initiatives in the transport sector in Europe.

presse.iledefrance-mobilites.fr (in French)