A longer and more ecological journey.
This is the ambition of the coach company Flixbus.
From Wednesday, the latter is launching, with Voyages Mario and Volvo Bus, a new line going from Brest to Grenoble, more than 1150 km, in “
total autonomy
”.
The connection, which will take place at night, would not need refueling.
It will be done “
on board vehicles running on biofuel made from rapeseed
”.
And will serve Quimper, Lorient, Auray, Vannes, Nantes, Angers, Saumur, Tours, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon and Grenoble before reaching its final destination.
According to Flixbus, this new route made with Oleo100 - an alternative energy to diesel -
"marks a new stage in the ambition that (it) has set itself from the outset to offer its customers ever more responsible, easy and economical travel."
The transport company recalls, in a press release, that these more ecological coaches have already been operating the line between Nice and Toulouse since November 2021 and between Vannes and Paris since last June.
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It is also an opportunity for Flixbus to strengthen its partnerships, in particular with the vehicle manufacturer Volvo Bus with which it has just signed an agreement.
“The two companies will work hand in hand to develop more sustainable coach travel by simplifying fleet development for FlixBus partner coach operators around the world,”
says the coach company.
However, Volvo Buses will not automatically provide buses for Flixbus.
The agreement provides in particular to
"facilitate the process of coach partner operators operating the FlixBus network wishing to acquire new vehicles according to pre-established durability, comfort and safety specifications".
According to the coach company, Oleo100, a biofuel made from rapeseed, should reduce CO2 emissions by around 70% and those of fine particles by 80%.