Paris bets on PTWs

Publication date: 27 April 2009

City Council incentives to boost the use of electric PTWs

The City of Paris has launched a campaign granting up to €400 for the purchase of new electric mopeds (up to 25% of the purchase price inclusive of VAT).

The aim is to encourage the use of electrically powered two-wheeled vehicles, which are considered as a sustainable solution to congestion and pollution.

A network of 40 terminals set up by the Paris City Hall will allow for free battery recharges.

Electro-mobility is still in its early days, with pilot projects and prototypes starting to pop up everywhere. Users are beginning to be attracted by this new mobility concept, however this mode of transport still needs heavy investments in research and development as well as in supporting actions by policymakers.

Today 50% of car trips are still less than 5km, and 30% are less than 3km. Walking and cycling are decreasing, despite every effort by policy makers.

ACEM manufacturers are responding to the dawning - but still timid - demand for electric PTWs, with several models, such as Piaggio Hybrid Mp3, KTM off-road motorcycle, Yamaha Passol electric moped of FC-Dii fuel cell prototype. Honda will market an electric motorcycle next year.

The City of Paris campaign started last March with a 400 Euro grant (up to 25% of the purchase price including VAT) to those who purchase an electric scooter. Citizens and businesses can benefit from this financial support. Electric powered two-wheelers are recharged by connecting them to ordinary electric sockets.

Interestingly the Paris administration is basing its decisions on environmental and economic data that are confirming the cost effectiveness and the low impact of combustion PTW. According to this evidence using a PTW emits arounf 70% less CO2 than a car and only 30% more than going to work by bus. The table below however does not take into account the economic benefit in terms of time savings, in which case PTWs demonstrate their full potential.

 
A study to be published soon highlights the considerable growth of PTWs use in Paris. Between 2000 and 2007, the amount of vehicle*km on PTWs increased by 36%. The share of PTWs on the streets of Paris is 17%, well above the usual estimates of between 4% and 6%. This share has increased from around 10% in 2000. The main reason for the shift of Parisian users to PTWs is due to the desire to reduce their transport costs, in terms of monetary costs as well as in terms of time gains.

Policy makers have devised this policy believing in the role played by electric PTWs in an environmentally friendly urban transport.

To better support this policy the City of Paris has created an office devoted to electric mobility which will inform and advise on electric vehicles and more particularly on two wheelers: bicycles and electric scooters.

The platform for electrical mobility (EME) was formed in 1997 by EDF and the City of Paris as a source of information for the public, professionals and local authorities. It takes part in contributing to the development of electric transport in Paris and Ile-de-France, with the aim of reducing pollution and fostering sustainable transport.

The EME has the ambition to analyze and raise awareness on new concepts of urban mobility and sharing of public space.

How to recharge? 300 sockets over 40 terminals are made available free of charge by the City of Paris. At home or at work, simply plug into an outlet of 220 volts. Some twenty new terminals will be installed shortly. It takes 4 to 6 hours to recharge a battery. Electric scooters have 50 to 80 km of autonomy.

Link to the emobelec website

Source: ACEM