Electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles: in Paris, the “parking lot of the future” is taking shape at the Madeleine

In the heart of the capital, under the forecourt of the Madeleine church in Paris (VIIIth), the parking operator Saemes has just inaugurated a one-of-a-kind car park.

More than half of the 944 parking spaces in this Madeleine-Tronchet underground car park on six levels are equipped with electric charging sockets, with a power of 7 to 22 kilowatts (kW).

That is 505 ready-to-use terminals, which make it the most "trendy" structure in France and undoubtedly in Europe.

"In 10 years, thermics will be over"

For now, only a handful of electric vehicles use them.

“But I am convinced that this car park will be full in a few years”, bets David Belliard (EELV), the transport assistant for the City of Paris, which owns more than 50% of Saemes.

“In ten years, thermics are over.

We prefer to anticipate needs rather than being late,” underlines Ghislaine Geffroy, the general manager.

To renovate and remodel this park built in 1971, Saemes invested 2.7 million euros.

With the stated ambition of making it a showcase for the “parking lot of the future”.

The car park offers a vast space dedicated to motorcycles and scooters: 237 spaces, 30 of which are equipped with electrical outlets.

The Madeleine-Tronchet car park also has two other particularities.

It has a very large space dedicated to motorcycles and scooters: 237 spaces, 30 of which are equipped with electrical outlets.

Still little used, this car park should experience an increase in attendance with the introduction of paid parking for two-wheelers in Paris, from 1 September.

It will then become more interesting to rent a place by the month (90 euros per month) rather than parking on the streets (2 or 3 euros per hour, depending on the district).

For bicycles, a distributor of accessories (inner tube, lighting, brakes, etc.) is also available to help cyclists in the Madeleine-Tronchet car park.

Parc de la Madeleine does not forget cyclists either.

A room with 50 places for bicycles and cargo bikes is set up on level -1, with an accessory distributor (inner tube, lighting, brakes, etc.)!

A one-of-a-kind initiative.