Paris Electric Boat Market: Accelerating Energy Transition

The Transition to Electric Boats in Paris

Tomorrow , the Olympic and Paralympic Games will kick off in Paris , with a unique opening ceremony taking place on the Seine involving 30 ships equipped with electric drives . This innovative approach aims to pay tribute to the fight against climate change.

Accelerating the Energy Transition

Haropa Port and the French water authorities VNF have been spearheading efforts to decarbonize inland shipping in France . With a budget of five million euros , they are working to electrify existing ships and introduce new battery - powered vessels . The goal is to make river shipping in Paris completely climate - neutral by 2037.

In a bid to modernize and construct new ships , the programme will see 20 vessels currently powered by diesel converted to electric drives , while eleven new ships will be battery - powered . The ambitious initiative is seen as a unique opportunity to accelerate the energy transition in French waters.

Charging Infrastructure Development

As part of the plan , charging stations for electric boats are being gradually installed along the Seine . Already , three moorings at Port de Grenelle in Paris are connected to the electricity grid , with 44 additional charging stations at various moorings . By the end of 2024 , a total of 82 charging stations will be in place along the Seine and the Oise , with further installations planned in the coming years , totaling an investment of 9.2 million euros by Haropa Port and VNF.

The initiative also includes the refurbishment of ships , with 60 percent to be equipped with purely electric drives and the remaining 40 percent with hybrid drives . For new vessels , 63 percent will operate on battery - electric drives , 27 percent on hybrid drives , and nine percent on hydrogen - powered systems.

Funding and Future Prospects

With a budget of 38 million euros , the electrification of ships in Paris is a significant investment . Each ship conversion or new build will cost approximately 1.2 million euros . The aim is to not only reduce the CO2 footprint of the ship fleets but also to pave the way for a more sustainable future for river transportation in the region . The development of electric boats and the associated charging infrastructure are crucial steps towards achieving a climate - neutral Paris by 2037.