A construction-site cart pulled by a donkey winds through the heart of Cagnes-sur-Mer. This isn’t a postcard backdrop, but a real scene spotted by drivers in the Alpes-Maritimes.
At the rear, masonry supplies; at the front, Bisou du Verdon, a Provençal donkey. He’s being put to work by a Roquebillière-based business owner tired of watching diesel prices spike. Nearby, fuel costs flirt with €3 per liter, a rate that could seriously strain any contractor’s budget. His two vehicles cover long distances each day to reach jobsites. And in his mind, a simple equation: carrots cost less than gasoline.
In Cagnes-sur-Mer, a construction boss trades in a truck for a donkey-drawn carriage
That day, through the streets of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Bisou du Verdon replaces the usual construction truck. This 400-kilogram Provençal donkey pulls a cargo-filled cart. On the side, a bold slogan that isn’t easy to miss: “At €3 per liter, might as well switch to donkey energy!”
Drivers react instantly, honking and applauding at the sight of a scene that seems lifted from a different era but is playing out in the 21st century. “Brilliant idea—it’s more economical than oil!” exclaimed a man in a passing van.
From donkey energy to carrots cheaper than gas
Behind the wink lies a tougher economic reality. “We typically cover about 200 kilometers a day with two vehicles. With diesel prices hovering near €3 per liter, the costs are piling up into the thousands,” Calogero Morella told Nice-Matin. “That’s when I came up with the idea of moving equipment by a donkey-drawn cart.” It’s a humorous gesture that points to a very serious issue for many small and medium-sized businesses.
The welfare of Bisou du Verdon is a frequent concern whenever an animal replaces an engine. “He’s used to being around the public. The noises and traffic don’t scare him at all; he stays calm and shows no signs of stress or discomfort,” assures Gilles Dereims of Calèches du Col de Vence, as cited by Le Républicain Lorrain.
For Morella, the splash of media attention expressed in the phrase “donkey energy” goes beyond a stunt. The entrepreneur says he aims to “draw attention to the fate of many SMEs.” He notes he cannot “absorb the fuel price hike indefinitely in quotes.” To him, the underlying problem is the cost of fuels for tradespeople, and he intends to push for a broader solution. He even sums up the idea in a punchline that’s been picked up by international press: “Carrots are cheaper than gasoline.” The image brings a smile in a country where roughly 11% of gas stations experience fuel shortages. Meanwhile, the state is rolling out aid for heavy users and for sectors like construction, agriculture, and fishing.
