Sustainable mobility has great challenges and opportunities to exploit around the world, due to the need to implement new cleaner technologies to improve the quality of life for the inhabitants of the world’s congested cities.
After the impact of COVID-19 on public transport, where almost 80% of passengers abandoned this mode of transportation, the sector is beginning to revive.
In this regard, one of the players driving the mobility revival on a global scale is Transdev, a French company with operations in 17 countries. Among the main missions of the company are its active participation in energy transition and the reduction of the social gap, with the objective of connecting people and communities, rural to urban, providing solutions tailored to the needs of users.
According to company figures, approximately 11 million people use its mobility solutions on five continents. With a wide range of ecological offerings that contribute to improving air quality through zero-emission innovations.
At the end of 2021, Transdev had a fleet of 1,800 zero-emission buses in operation or on order, focusing its services on advising its partners on the choice of cleaner mobility solutions.
Electromobility Solutions Adapted to Communities
Transdev’s sustainable mobility strategy is reflected in its broad capacity to offer and operate a variety of electric vehicles. For example, it has a strong presence of electrified buses and minibuses in the Netherlands, Sweden and France, electric self-service cars, autonomous vehicles in Rouen, demonstrating its leadership in operating 100% electric car networks.
Thierry Mallet, President of Transdev, stresses that even when all-electric operation is not possible, they are working hard to accelerate the conversion of diesel bus and coach fleets to a more electrified one.
“We have drawn key lessons from our experiences in the Netherlands with the operation of large-scale zero-emission fleets: the potential economic viability of zero-emission fleets, the essential investment in human resources, and the vital partnership and collaboration with public transport authorities,” the executive notes on the company’s official website.
Presence in the Americas
Beyond the European territory, Transdev also presents important mobility solutions by becoming the first private operator of electric school buses in North America.
In Canada, the company acquired a fleet of 27 electric school buses, which entered service in September 2020, with an investment of close to €3 million. This energy strategy has enabled them to reduce polluting emissions by 99% compared to diesel buses in Quebec’s school networks.
Innovation with Hydrogen
In its quest to implement new technologies to perfect its mobility offer, Transdev carried out a successful launch of the first hydrogen fuel cell electric line in France.
Since November 2019, the TADAO network, operated by Transdev, has been running the first hydrogen fuel cell electric bus line on French territory.
This transport network, jointly managed with the Artois-Gohelle Mixed Transport Union, represents an innovative project in hydrogen energy for public transport, bringing together the shared expertise of companies such as Safra, Michelin, Engie and Transdev.
