Financing of Valbus Electric Buses in Val d’Isère

Context
In response to the climate emergency and the need to protect fragile ecosystems, the inland waterway sector is accelerating its energy transition.
In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Groupe Tourisme Participations—operator of the Compagnies des Bateaux on Lake Bourget, Lake Annecy, and Lake Geneva—has launched an ambitious project: converting its existing cruise boats to 100% electric propulsion.

The Challenges

• Decarbonizing an existing fleet
  Electric retrofitting offers a sustainable alternative to purchasing new vessels, avoiding the carbon footprint associated with new construction.
  The project involves converting 9 boats—including restaurant and sightseeing vessels—by equipping them with zero-emission propulsion systems, specifically adapted to navigation on Lakes Annecy and Bourget, two of the cleanest lakes in Europe :
  • 5 boats on Lake Annecy, including Le Libellule (250 seats) and 4 sightseeing boats (150–200 seats)
  • 4 boats on Lake Bourget, including 2 restaurant boats (75–150 seats) and 2 sightseeing boats, one of which is equipped for bicycle transport (60–130 seats)
• Balancing Environmental Protection and Passenger Experience
  The goal is to offer a silent, non-polluting tourist experience, with no compromise on passenger comfort, while contributing to the preservation of the lakes and improvement of air quality.

Our Solution
Financing through a Retrofit-as-a-Service (RaaS) model
NEoT Green Mobility has implemented an 8-year RaaS contract, enabling the financing of propulsion batteries independently from the boat hulls.
This financial structure is combined with support from the PAMI program, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, local authorities, and EDF’s energy savings certificates (CEE).

Results & Impact

• First fully electrified inland navigation fleet in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region
• Improved working conditions for crews thanks to quieter and easier-to-maintain engines
• Enhanced passenger experience through smooth, environmentally respectful navigation
• CO₂ emissions reduced by 2,450 tons per year, from 2,500 to just 50 tons

Why Neot?
As a specialist in low-carbon mobility financing, NEoT Green Mobility supports transport operators, local governments, and industrial players in their energy transition, by structuring turnkey solutions tailored to the specific needs of each sector, particularly through innovative retrofit models.

Philippe Ringenbach, President of NEoT Green Mobility: “This pioneering project reflects our commitment to delivering concrete solutions to decarbonize inland and maritime transport. Thanks to our innovative financing model, we enable operators to take the leap toward the energy transition without facing prohibitive financial constraints.”

Philippe Gausset, President of Tourisme Participations: “Our commitment to electric propulsion stems from our responsibility to collectively preserve the lakes and protect future generations. Safeguarding the exceptional environment of Lakes Annecy and Bourget, and improving air and water quality, is a top priority for us—with no compromise on the passenger experience.”