Eiffage Énergie Systèmes has successfully completed the installation of a vital electrical substation for the eRoadMontBlanc demonstrator project, marking a major milestone in Europe’s push to decarbonize long-distance freight transport.
Commissioned by Eiffage Route and led by a French consortium including ATMB, Gustave Eiffel University, Alstom, Pronergy, and Greenmot, the project is trialling Electric Road Systems (ERS) at the Transpolis Innovation and Safety Test Center near Lyon.
The innovative infrastructure powers Alstom’s adapted APS system — originally developed for the Bordeaux tramway — to deliver energy via embedded road rails, allowing electric trucks to recharge dynamically while in motion.
“We connected a medium-voltage shelter to an existing transformer, converting 585V AC into 750V DC for road charging. A second low-voltage shelter hosts Alstom’s control cabinets, directing power to 19 manholes along a 418-meter test track,” said Frédéric Aïta, Project Manager.
The installation ran from March 7 to December 12, 2024, and is a critical first phase in testing ERS technologies under real-world conditions. Trucks equipped with friction pads draw 400–500 kWh while driving — enough to power both movement and battery recharging, extending range up to 200 km post-charging.
Phase 2 of the project will take the system to public roads, with a full-scale 1 km trial planned on the N205 at Les Houches, facing harsher conditions like gradients and altitude.
Alongside Alstom’s APS, two competing ERS technologies are also being evaluated: Siemens’ overhead contact lines and Electreon’s inductive charging. The European Union will select one system to potentially equip 8,800 km of French motorways, and eventually expand across Europe.
About Eiffage Énergie Systèmes
Eiffage Énergie Systèmes designs, builds, operates, and maintains systems and facilities for energy, industry, and infrastructure. As part of the Eiffage Group, it leverages deep technical expertise to support Europe’s transition to sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions.
