G7 is continuing its transition to green mobility. Launched in 2007 to develop a "green" fleet, the company announced its ambition in 2019 to have 50 % of hybrid or electric vehicles by 2021. This objective has been met, and of the 9,000 drivers affiliated to the platform, more than 4,500 have a 'green' vehicle, the vast majority of which are non-rechargeable hybrids. Within this fleet, described as the first green taxi fleet in Europe, G7 also has around a hundred electric cars, mainly Teslas and Nissans.
" This was achieved in a complicated period, with no drop in driver investment as a result of the fall in business." said Nicolas Rousselet, the company's CEO, congratulating them on this development. The proportion of low-emission models was only 33 % in 2015 and 40 % in 2020, and should increase further as the fleet is renewed. G7 has set new targets, including 75% of Green saloon cars by 2024 and 100 % by 2027.. " I am confident of achieving this objectiveunderlined Nicolas Rousselet. We need to go further to consolidate the taxi's place in tomorrow's mobility. "
In consultation with its drivers, G7 will ban new diesel vehicles from its fleet from January 2022 and new petrol saloons from early 2023. At the same time, the company is using its negotiating power with manufacturers to offer drivers attractive deals on the purchase or lease of low-emission vehicle models. " In recent months, 80 % of renewals have involved G7 Green vehicles." notes Yann Ricordel, Deputy Managing Director of G7. For more information, visit accelerate the transition to electric 100% vehiclesThe G7 is homologating new models such as the Mercedes EQV and Skoda Enyaq, while awaiting the forthcoming test of a hydrogen-powered vehicle, the Toyota Mirai, to study its compatibility with everyday use and passenger comfort.
The fact remains, however, that the company's greening drive remains dependent on market trends. On the manufacturers' side, for example, G7 points to the shortage of large green vehicles designed for families or people with reduced mobility. But it is above all the recharging infrastructure that is still limiting the proportion of electric vehicles in its fleet. The target of 100,000 charging points by 2020 has been postponed until 2022, with the company regretting that the number of charging points is still too low. very low availability of fast-charging stations in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. This pitfall has led one of G7's competitors, Uber, to enter into a partnership with Total to develop these charging solutions.
For its part, G7 is encouraging the mayors of the Paris arrondissements and other towns in the region to introduce surface solutions reserved for taxis and VTCs. " We'd like it to go fastersaid Yann Ricordel, taking the example of London, where an incentive policy has accelerated the electrification of the notorious black cabs. To the politicians' credit, the competitive tendering process is slowing down the roll-out of charging stations." . As part of its commitment, the company is partnering a number of service providers, including Zephyre, to facilitate the installation of home charging points in individual or collective housing.
This 'green' shift also involves a greening demand with a two-tier strategy aimed at both the general public and businesses. For individuals, the new version of the G7 app presented in June highlights Green taxis, with G7 noting a threefold increase in orders for this solution since its introduction. At the same time, the company is offering companies a special subscription contract, called Green preferencewhich consists of assigning a Green vehicle as a priority, regardless of the passenger's initial request. A total of 650 companies have adopted the scheme, with 400 subscribing in 2021 alone.
The future of soft mobility depends on multimodality, and G7 intends to demonstrate this with the launch in mid-September of a new service, called G7 Vélo, which makes it possible to order a taxi equipped with a bicycle rack which can carry up to three bicycles. " Bad weather, tiredness, late return, equipment breakdown: I'm convinced that taxis and bicycles can complement each other, and we wanted to reflect that in our offer." said Zineb Essahli, G7 Marketing Director. Nicolas Rousselet concluded: " The city of tomorrow will be made up of bicycles, scooters and taxis. "
Business: recovery driven by the general publicWith 1.2 million journeys made last September, i.e. an increase of +3 % compared to September 2019G7 saw a marked improvement in its business. This upturn can be attributed to leisure customers (+22%), boosted in particular by partnerships with cultural players such as the Louvre Museum, the Philarmonie de Paris and the Solidays festival, while the business market continues to lag behind, with a drop of -8%. " Business travel is a segment in declineIn particular, travel to airports fell by 45 %" says Yann Ricordel. Although the impact of teleworking has not yet been measured, the deputy CEO of G7 believes that, " even if we return to a more positive phase, thanks in particular to the resumption of trade fair business, this clientele will take longer to return. " |
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