After responding to the Urban Lab call for experimentation in collaboration with sustainable energy innovation engine EIT InnoEnergy, the universal charge solution will be deployed in Q2 2021. DUCKT offers the municipality and e-mobility users a way to help organise public space, lower operation costs and provide a simple, secure universal charge station. The adaptable solution can be plugged into advertising boards, bus stations and street lighting to provide a power source.

Marc-Antoine Réol, Country Manager France at DUCKT said: “Paris was the ideal city to demonstrate the power of our solution. With nearly 15,000 electric scooters on the streets, policies are going to keep moving towards accelerated deployment of micro mobility. The aim of this experimentation is to provide a last mile infrastructure, which links public transport and shared micro-mobility. This initiative supports the mayor’s desire to reduce the use of cars in town to a minimum and the city’s ambitious “15-minute city” project which aims to give Parisians the full use of their streets back.”

From 2024, car drivers will not be able to drive a diesel car in Paris and by 2030, gas powered cars will be banned. Research from Lime has shown a 15% increase in the number of electric bike and scooter trips in the city and a 65% in distance travelled from February – June 2020.

Hortense Becheux, Sales Manager France at EIT InnoEnergy adds: “Micro mobility is in the driver’s seat as Paris, and other major cities like Barcelona and London decarbonize. We think DUCKT offers something truly unique – the solution is built to be adaptable and green. This means it can even generate its own power through solar options. At EIT InnoEnergy, our purpose is to accelerate the energy transition and by backing DUCKT, we know we can make a meaningful difference together.”

Speaking on its long-term partnership with EIT InnoEnergy, Reol said: “EIT InnoEnergy’s intimate knowledge of the French market, commercial support and years of expertise in sustainable energy entrepreneurship played an essential role in our ability to pursue this opportunity.”

An unveiling event organised by Paris&Co, the innovation lab of the Paris Municipality through its experimental branch “Urban Lab”, is taking place this morning. Once the pilot has been running for 12 months, it can then be considered for commercial roll out.