France set to be among European trailblazers for electric motorways

France is expected to follow the lead of Sweden and Germany and test electric motorways, according to Les Echos, a leading French media for financial news.

Designed for lorries, they work in a similar way to tramways in town centres or electric trains.

It would mean that electric-powered trucks could recharge their batteries as they drove on the special roads.

The first trial is expected to take place by the end of 2025 in the Haut-Rhin department in France’s north- east.

The aim is to make goods transportation more eco-friendly and streamlined.

The project is part of a continued call for innovative ideas and eco-friendly, futuristic investments from France’s transport ministry. It is estimated that the electrification of 9,000 km of roads would cost around €35million. It will be financed through the French public investment bank Bpifrance, in a government partnership.

Construction and automobile companies will also take part, including HGV manufacturer Scania (which is Swedish, and owned by Volkswagen), as well as the Equans branch of French company Bouygues, and German company Siemens.

Electric motorways for HGVs have already been tested in countries including Germany and Sweden. For example, in Germany, electrified rails enable HGVs to charge their batteries by 15%.

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