Today, buses are at the core of a technological revolution designed to meet the sector's new challenges. In France, the Southern Region is particularly committed to reduce the environmental impact of its non-urban transport networks, which carry no less than 12 million passengers a year. For example, last October saw the inauguration of new 100% clean, 100% ZOU! bus lines in Antibes. Partly operated by Keolis Alpes-Maritimes, the ZOU! network will eventually include nearly 140 electric vehicles, 107 of which are already on the road. In 2024, 16 double-decker electric vehicles will be added to the fleet, along with 25 buses running on natural gas. Thanks to this operation, the network expects to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 105,000 tonnes over eight years to achieve one of the objectives of the Southern Region's "Gardons une COP d'avance" Climate Plan, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050.
To encourage passengers to opt for public transport, these lines offer an optimal experience: new fleet, accessible on-board wifi and reading app. Manufactured by IVECO-Heuliez, the electric buses offer a number of advantages, such as flat floors for easy access, batteries with a range of 200-300 km, and reduced noise levels for greater comfort for passengers and drivers.
