- France has set itself the goal of reaching one million electric vehicles in circulation in 2022. But for the moment, the electrification of the French fleet is skating. VTCs to give a boost?
- This is the idea of the #TrueCostOfUber campaign, which requires VTC platforms to ensure that vehicles registered in their base, essentially running today on diesel, are 100% clean mobility by 2025.
- The petition, launched by several environmental NGOs, concerns not only France, but also Europe and the United States. But it has a particular resonance in France when approaching the municipal ones.
From 10,000 in 2016 to around 30,000 today. The number of Transport Vehicles with Driver (VTC) registered in Ile-de-France has tripled in three years. And the market has not yet reached saturation. "In Greater London, there are already more than 100,000 today," compares Yoann Le Petit, in charge of new mobility within Transport & Environment, a federation of around fifty specialized European NGOs.
Good for the planet? Yes, says Uber France, a behemoth of the sector. The company presents hybrid bikes as “a way to help city dwellers move away from the private car to switch to shared and electric mobility. "
Also at the expense of clean mobility?
Uber is based on an online survey by the 6t design office, conducted in 2018 among 1,966 Ile-de-France residents using the platform. Among the respondents, 17% declared having abandoned at least one car in their household without replacing it since the arrival of VTC services in the capital region. If Uber alone is not enough to justify these demotorizations, it would however have played a major role for 25% of respondents who abandoned a car in the past four years. The study then concluded that by playing this role, Uber would avoid 1.5 to 3 million kilometers traveled in Ile-de-France per day, the equivalent of 1.5 to 3% of regional traffic.
Transport & Environment takes a completely different look at hybrid bikes. Yoann Le Petit is already pointing out the impact on the air quality of these 30,000 vehicles operating in Ile-de-France. "As of December 31, 2017, 90% of hybrid bikes operating in France were running on diesel, one of the main emitters of nitrogen oxides (Nox), and each vehicle drives an average of between 200 and 300 kilometers per day", cadre- he.
In addition, if the hybrid car solution allows individual cars to be left in the garage, "it also nibbles modal shares on walking, cycling or public transport," continues Yoann Le Petit. Which also refers to a study. The one published in February by the Union of concerned scientists, a collective of American scientists and citizens who work in particular on the question of clean energy. The study concludes that Uber journeys emit on average 70% more C02 than the alternative they replace. "They even generate more emissions overall than a private car, on the order of 40% on average, according to this same study," specifies Yoann Le Petit. Simply because before taking you in charge, the VTC must go to the meeting point that you have fixed for him. A journey that generates its share of emissions. "
“Aim for 100% zero emissions in 2025”
Do hybrid bikes have to do much more to reduce pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions they generate? This is in any case the demand at the heart of the international #TrueCostofUber campaign: that VTC platforms switch to a 100% zero emission engine by 2025, in the United States and in Europe.
In France, the petition is being relayed by Transport & Environment and the Respire and Sum of Us associations, and is already approaching 25,000 signatures this Tuesday. It also has a particular resonance in Paris, a few days from the municipal elections, and has already received the support of candidates Anne Hidalgo, David Belliard and Danièle Simonnet.
To date, however, the town hall of Paris has only limited powers over hybrid bikes, which mainly depend on the prefecture. "It can already promote this transition to electric by deploying more rapid charging stations on the public highway," says Joseph Berretta, president of Avere-France (Association for the development of electric mobility). Ile-de-France is fairly well provided, with 4,000 terminals already installed, he said. "But that will not be enough if, tomorrow, the VTC fleet massively goes electric," says Cyril Masson, CSR manager at Marcel, one of the VTC platforms operating in Paris.
"A relationship to be structured between cities and hybrid bikes"
Beyond the infrastructures, "the town hall of Paris could especially ask that the competences on the VTC be transferred to him, insists Yoann Le Petit. The challenge is that it may, tomorrow, limit the number of VTCs able to travel on its territory, or require special efforts from them to be able to drive in the low emission zone (ZFE). For example, they are Crit'air 1 and 2, and not diesel. Then even, from 2025, let them be zero-emission. "
Joël Hazan, associate director of the Boston consulting group, a strategy consulting firm, draws a parallel with the call for tenders launched in late December by the city of Paris to operators of self-service electric scooters. The goal: to select three, which will be the only ones able to deploy in the capital. “In the same way, little by little, the relationship between cities and VTC platforms will be structured, he believes. We can then easily imagine that the share of electric vehicles will be a determining factor in the selection of operators. "
So much for the cities. Platforms also have a key role to play in encouraging drivers using their applications to switch to the electrical transition. "So far, whether on the social, security or environmental aspects, VTC platforms, and not only Uber, have only advanced their model under duress," regrets Joël Hazan. The electrification of their park is a golden opportunity to redeem themselves a virtue. "
A transition already underway?
Everything works together today. "If it weren't for the fact that electric is an increasingly advantageous solution for heavy wheelers," says Joseph Berretta. There are more and more models on the market, some meeting their expectations. Prices are less and less distant from thermal vehicles if we integrate the aid that professionals can take advantage of. Above all, they are amortized by a cost per kilometer today three times cheaper than for a diesel equivalent. "
The transition is already underway, retorts Uber France and Marcel. The first cites the UberGreen service, an option launched in Paris in June 2016 and available today in nine cities. It allows, via the application, to reserve a hybrid or electric vehicle at the same price as an UberX. "In parallel, in September 2016, we introduced an ecological bonus which allows a driver to earn one euro more per race carried out in an electric car, which he can accumulate until reaching a ceiling of 4,000 euros", specifies are we at Uber France.
Partnerships with manufacturers
The platform has also signed an agreement with Nissan ensuring the availability of "Leaf", an electric model of the Japanese brand, for Uber drivers wishing to buy one.
This is another factor that plays in favor of the electrification of the VTC fleet: "the need, for car manufacturers, to find bridgeheads to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles in France", recall Joël Hazan and Yoann The little. To boost its “e.co” service, the equivalent of UberGreen, Marcel has forged a partnership with Renault, which also owns the platform. "Renault has set up an offer dedicated to Marcel drivers allowing them to rent Zoé [the manufacturer's flagship electric car] by the month and at an attractive price," explains Cyril Masson. Today, we have referenced 350 electric vehicles in our database, around half of which are rental Zoe. To date, Marcel claims 40% of his journeys made by electric vehicles and aims for 100% by the end of 2023. Before 2025 therefore.
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Uber getting ahead in London?
"In the British capital, the platform has already made the commitment to switch to all-electric in 2025," notes Yoann Le Petit, in charge of new mobility at Transport & Environment. At the same time, Uber has set up the “Clean air fund”. "On certain routes, the cost of the ride is increased by 15 cents per miles and this money feeds a fund that helps Uber drivers to switch to electric," continues Yoann Le Petit.
In late January, the platform also ordered 2,000 Nissan Leaf from the Japanese automaker for its London fleet. "Its drivers who wish to buy one of these 2,000 cars will then be able to benefit from preferential prices", specifies Yoann Le Petit.
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