With the development of sales of new and used electric cars, modernization represents another way to decarbonize the vehicle fleet. Several French companies have positioned themselves in this activity, which consists of transforming a thermal vehicle into an electric one.
The main interest: to keep the maximum number of elements by replacing almost only the part linked to the engine and the fuel tank with a battery.
Accelerate the industrialization of retrofitting
This week, on the occasion of the Mondial de l’Auto, the Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, and the Minister of Industry, Roland Lescure, announced the creation of a fund of 20 million euros to retrofit players. The goal? Allow them to accelerate their development to industrialize this transformation of vehicles.
A good sign for the French modernization sector, as confirmed by Antoine Deferet, co-founder of Tolv (ex-Phoenix Mobility), a Grenoble-based company specializing in modernization of public services:
“It is excellent news with this recognition by the public authorities of the interest in rehabilitation. This represents a new step after the approval and the first subsidies, now it is necessary for larger companies and to go on an industrial scale”.
The call for projects will be launched in mid-November, an opportunity to learn more about the companies that will receive part of these start-up grants. For Tolv, it is timely:
“We are going to deliver the first ten vehicles to our customers before the end of the year, explains Antoine Deferet. Then the idea is to multiply our production by 10 in 2023, to reach 100 delivered vehicles, then by another 10 in 2024, that is to say , 1,000 vehicles”.
At the moment, Tolv is offering to convert two Renault vehicles, the Master light utility vehicle and the Trafic van. If the transformation of the Masters takes place at the company’s site in Grenoble, Traffic is the subject of a partnership announced last July with the diamond group. The industrialization will take place at the Flins (Yvelines) plant, which Renault is currently transforming into a Re-factory, and Tolv will be in charge of guaranteeing the commercialization of the vehicles, which will be able to carry out their maintenance in France. manufacturer’s Pro+ network.
From scooters to buses and trucks
For Aymeric Libeau, co-founder of Transition-One and Tech&Co guest at Business B.F.M. this week, this public fund of 20 million euros will also speed up the approval stage. His company wants to transform small private vehicles (Twingo or Clio type), but for the time being it remains at the stage of non-marketable prototypes. Its objective: if the client comes with his vehicle to be transformed, a remainder to be paid after the state premiums of 5,000 euros.
“The regulations require us that the vehicle be more than 5 years old, to avoid commercial confrontation with the manufacturer’s guarantee, and behind it we can convert all models” (from the moment this transformation is approved), explains Aymeric Libeau, from two wheels. to trucks and buses.
A diversity well known by Arnaud Pigounides, founder of REV Mobility, and who welcomes this “strong signal for the circular economy, the decarbonisation of vehicles and for employment”.
It has thus declined its offer in several brands such as Retrofuture, to convert old cars to electric ones, but also REV Professional (for utility vehicles and REV Bus&Truck fleets (for heavy vehicles and buses) and also highlights the conversion of hydrogen vehicles.
“The retrofit represents a 66% reduction in greenhouse gases (more than 6 tons of CO2 less on average, source Ademe) for private vehicles and up to 87% for buses and trucks”, he recalls in a press release.
Source: BFM TV
