People visiting the Gran Paradiso National Park in Valle d’Aosta, north-western Italy, are using zero-emission transport as they enjoy the area’s spectacular scenery and fresh air. The Rê.V.E. – Grand Paradis project provided a fleet of electric-powered, pedal-assisted bicycles and two electric cars through a scheme which generates power using only renewable resources.
- 27 September 2019
The project Rê.V.E. gathered the great potential of bike sharing and transferred it to a more difficult mountain environment while introducing the use of renewable resources. The beneficiaries of the project were multiple, starting from the municipalities where the 11 platforms were deployed, with direct outcomes within the local communities. The inhabitants could freely loan the pedal-assisted bicycles. Moreover, the network of the electric vehicles represents a valuable benefit also for tourists and, consequently, for all the actors involved in the tourism sector, who had a captivating service to add to their offer.
The project paid for the construction of 11 solar-powered recharging stations in eight locations across five municipalities – Introd, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, Rhêmes-Saint-Georges, Cogne and Valsavarenche. The shelters are home to 66 electric bicycles which tourists can use free of charge to roam the valleys and mountains. Two electric cars, also recharged with solar power, were introduced through the EU-supported investment.
Sustainable solutions
The aim of Rê.V.E is to encourage visitors to leave their cars at home and move the National Park towards transport that has almost no impact on the environment. Since its successful roll-out in 2012, the project has contributed to an increase in renewable energy production equivalent to approximately 75 MWh/year. The bike-sharing scheme is one of the most extensive in Europe. During the experimental phase, over 400 users made 1 800 journeys in three weeks.
With the help of Turin Polytechnic, the performance of the two electric cars on the Park’s mountainous roads was compared with that of identical vehicles on urban routes in Aosta. Information was collected relating to energy consumption and performance on the different terrains.
Raising awareness
Rê.V.E was a pilot project designed to be easily replicated by other municipalities across the region. The project has helped raise public awareness about the potential and value of zero-emission transport in sensitive and important ecosystems.
Gran Paradiso was established as Italy’s first national park in 1922. Covering an area of about 700 km2, the park has a varied landscape that includes tracts of alpine grassland and mountains. At 4 061 m, the Gran Paradiso mountain is the park’s highest peak. The park attracts thousands of visitors every year, who are drawn to its scenic beauty and diverse plant and animal life.
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Rêve Grand ParadisTotal investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Rê.V.E. - Grand Paradis” is EUR 850 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 340 000 through the “Valle d’Aosta” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Low-carbon economy”.