The ski resort of Alpe d’Huez has been awarded with the ‘Green Initiative’ award at the Trophées de la Montagne Française.
The prize was given at a ceremony in Val d’Isere last month, created to celebrate new developments in mountain resorts in France.
Alpe d’Huez won the award for its focus on clean transport.
Electric shuttle buses
In resort they have a hybrid piste-groomer (also known to some as a ratrac), as well as three in-resort fully electric navette buses, as well as electric charging stations.
The buses have a range of 120km at a speed of 70kmh. Use will cut emissions per vehicle by 95% – equivalent to 100 tonnes per annum.
As the buses are very quiet, they have been equipped with bells so that pedestrians can hear them coming!
The director of the Tourist Office, Fabrice Hurth said: ‘We are answering a real consumer demand. We eventually hope to replace all our navettes with electric models.’
Electric car-sharing
Alpe d’Huez also has a unique car sharing service, which was introduced in February 2014.
Using fleet of twelve Renault Twizy cars, equipped with snow tyres and ski rack, holiday makers can borrow the cars after buying credits on a smartphone or card.
It is expected that this system – created by Keymoov – will come into operation in several other French ski resorts this winter.
Great green innovation
These are both great innovations and are likely to make Alpe d’Huez the choice of ski resort for holiday makers wanting to go as green as possible.
For more details on catered chalets in Alpe d’Huez, please contact the Chaletline team on 01822 617761.
Article by Iain Martin