Co-funded by the
European Union
ACTON starts major micromobility infrastructure rollout in Paris
ACTON, a global leader in mobility-as-a-service solutions, has started a major rollout of its micromobility all-in-one docking and charging stations in Paris. This will allow riders of the most commonly used types of e-bikes and e-scooters – shared or personally owned – to conveniently park and charge in designated areas, keeping streets and walkways clear for pedestrians.
Initially, 42 stations will be deployed in six locations followed by a second phase that will see another 150 stations installed in 17 locations across Paris’ Rive Gauche district. These will connect key transportation hubs such as Gare D’Austerlitz, Place d’Italie and Olympiades with residential areas like Station F, Bibliothèque nationale de France (Bnf) or Paris University. Overseen by Paris’ Urban Lab, the project is the result of partnerships with Engie Solutions, Smovengo, Enedis (subsidiary of EDF), EIT InnoEnergy and the NGO XIII Avenir. The rollout shall be concluded by the end of 2022.
ACTON will deploy the all-in-one stations as part of a major urban transformation championed by Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo which aims at turning Paris into a “15-Minute City” – a city whose inhabitants shall be able to reach all locations and amenities for their essential daily needs within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, including workplaces, schools and childcare, shops, restaurants, clinics, cultural institutions, and parks.
Antoine Guillou, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of human resources, social dialogue and quality of public service, comments: “The 13th district is pleased to welcome ACTON’s universal charging stations. This project should both facilitate and better regulate the development of micromobility in public space, in line with the concept of the 15-minute city that we are implementing in the 13th district and all of Paris.”
“With over 15,000 shared electric scooters and e-bikes in Paris, in addition to a rapidly growing number of privately owned vehicles, the need for easy, convenient and safe charging infrastructure for these light electric vehicles (LEV) is becoming a public service necessity” says Marc-Antoine Réol, Country Manager France at ACTON. “Paris is the ideal hub for our next-generation stations to make LEV transportation even more efficient.”
ACTON’s universal docking, locking, and charging solution can be powered by existing street fixtures including advertising boards, bus stations, street lighting or via a dedicated solar source – creating a flexible, sustainable mobility offering that can be deployed almost anywhere.
“We are proud to be partnering with ACTON to offer the inhabitants of the 13th district a solution that’s tailored to the needs of the users of e-scooters and e-bikes. Complementary to the car charging stations we are co-developing with many communities this will allow residents to travel emission-free, and improve the overall quality of life,“ says François-Xavier de Froment, Director of Mobility at ENGIE Solutions.
Jacques Greveildinger, CEO of Smovengo adds: “Micromobility is a big part of the solution to Paris’ transportation challenges. The creation of such ‘multimodal hubs’ around our stations is an important element of the much-needed mobility transition that minimizes the civil engineering efforts for local authorities.”
ACTON, that is backed by EIT InnoEnergy, the innovation engine for sustainable energy supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, a body of the European Union (EU), is headquartered in Silicon Valley and runs its European operations from Paris. It has installed over 3,000 micromobility charging stations, enabling over 100 million rides in over 100 cities worldwide including New York, Miami, and Istanbul.
