Transdev has continued its transition to zero emission vehicles in Australia, adding two more electric buses to its fleets in both Brisbane and Sydney after Melbourne-based bus manufacturer Volgren earlier this month delivered four of its electric vehicles to the public transport operator.
Transdev, which operates public transport systems in 17 countries, has already introduced five new electric buses to its fleets in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Transdev Australasia CEO Luke Agati said the Brisbane buses would be 100% powered by sustainable solar energy after the company installed a rooftop solar facility and battery storage system at its Capalaba depot.
The company said the solar PV powered ‘green mobility megawall’ can generate up to 159,000 kWh of renewable energy annually and is combined with 135 kWh hours of battery storage.
“Averaging more than 280 days of sunshine per year, Queensland well and truly lives up to its reputation as the Sunshine State, and we are excited to be bringing this clean, green, modern vehicle to Brisbane,” Agati said.
“Globally, Transdev is a leader in zero-emissions mobility and work is underway to introduce new fleet and innovations to Australia and New Zealand over the coming months.
“Research, testing and design for our future zero-emissions fleet will be led from our newly opened Maintenance and Engineering Centre of Excellence, also based at our Capalaba depot.”
Image: Volgren
The new electric buses were built at Volgren’s factory in Dandenong in Melbourne’s east, using all Australian parts other than the chassis and the 348 kW Lithium Phosphate battery, which were manufactured by Chinese company BYD.
Volgren engineering manager Brenton McCallum said the 39-seat buses have an average range of 250km over the life of the battery, and up to 300km earlier in its life.
The Volgren bus which is being trialled in Melbourne in partnership with the Victorian Government has however exceeded that estimation, travelling nearly 1,000km on just two charges.
Agati said the decision to manufacture the buses locally was an acknowledgement of the skill and expertise of Australia’s local bus manufacturing sector.
“Australia is on the cusp of an e-mobility revolution in public transport,” he said. “We want to see more Australians travelling on zero-emissions electric and hydrogen powered buses, and we want Australian bus manufacturers to lead the journey with us.”
The delivery of the new buses comes just weeks after the first fully Australian designed and built electric bus was put to the test in Sydney.
That trial is part of the New South Wales Government’s push to replace all of its 8,000 diesel buses with electric ones by 2030.
The Victorian Government is also accelerating its switch to electric buses, announcing last year a $20 million, three-year statewide trial aimed at transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet.
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