By Justin Di Giulio
Image credit: Minister Ben Carroll's Twitter
In a progressive move towards sustainable urban transport, Melbourne recently unveiled nine more electric buses to its fleet. These eco-friendly vehicles, originating from West Footscray, are set to cater to the inner western suburbs, reflecting Melbourne's dedication to cleaner transport.
This new wave of buses has its backing from the ambitious $20 million Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) initiative. In a broader perspective, the ZEB trial will see six operators introducing an assortment of 52 buses - 50 powered by electricity and a couple by hydrogen, aiming to provide service in regions like Melbourne, Traralgon, and Seymour.
Speaking about the introduction, Michael McGee, at the helm of Transit Systems, expressed optimism. He highlighted that the upcoming year might see approximately 670,000 commuters benefiting from these buses.
McGee commented, “This trial builds on our established operations in Victoria, as well as our electric bus and infrastructure capabilities, as we already operate Australia’s largest electric bus fleet and the country’s largest electrified depot,” he said in a statement. He also hinted at the positive environmental impact, noting a daily reduction of 1.75 tonnes in tailpipe emissions courtesy of these new additions.
While on the topic of manufacturers, Volgren stands out. This company, with production bases in Melbourne and Brisbane, ventured into the electric bus domain in 2019. Their recent accomplishments include a notable delivery of 50 electric buses to Translink in May. Another notable commitment involves supplying 36 eco-friendly buses to Kinetic in Melbourne.
Shedding light on the specifications, the Optimus E-Bus model stands out with its impressive 250km drive range, requiring just 3.5 hours for a full recharge. This model features a BYD DR9A 860 (K9) chassis from China and is energized by 16 powerful battery packs.
By 2025, Victoria is poised for a significant shift in its transit policy. All new buses will be mandated to adhere to zero-emission standards.
This move could see a massive transformation of the existing diesel buses, especially the 2,200 operating in the regional areas of Victoria. These buses will either transition to electric or hydrogen power or will be taken out of service.
Although Victoria has set aggressive environmental targets, aiming for up to 80% emission reduction by 2035 and net-zero by 2045, it has yet to adopt measures like banning new fossil fuel vehicle sales. The state's imposition of a road tax on electric cars has sparked debates.
Previously, in the initial phase of the ZEB trial in Sunbury, three buses with solid-state Lithium Metal Polymer (LMP) batteries were introduced. The data from these ventures will shape future decisions by offering a clear understanding of performance metrics and energy demands of such vehicles.
It's a step towards understanding the potential of green vehicles in reshaping the future of urban transport.
Source: Williamson, R. (2023, May 29). Nine new electric buses roll out in Melbourne’s inner west. https://thedriven.io/2023/05/29/nine-new-electric-buses-roll-out-in-melbournes-inner-west/
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