An innovative program dubbed "FlexMob'île" launched by Groupe Renault, Morbihan Energie, Les Cars Bleus and Enedis was announced recently as part of an initiative aiming at establishing a smart electric ecosystem on the French island of Belle-Île-en-Mer. Residents and visitors of the island will be able to drive electric cars powered by a network of charging stations. Furthermore, energy will be produced by solar panels installed on the roofs of buildings.
The main goal of Groupe Renault and its partners is to reduce the island's carbon footprint and increase its energy independence, similarly to the Smart Fossil Free Island program that was launched last February on the Portuguese island of Porto Santa.
"Our goal is the same as with Porto Santo," said Gilles Normand, SVP, group electric vehicle division at Groupe Renault. "That is to say the implementation of global solutions that meet local needs using both tried-and-tested and more recent technologies. It will be possible to carry over the Belle-Île-en-Mer system not just to other islands but also to cities and suburban areas."
FlexMob'île will promote the use of locally-produced renewable energy thanks to its solar panels system that will provide heat and lighting in addition to energy to charge the cars.