The Australian Government is supporting the nation’s first electric bus fleet as a new pilot program deploys 40 vehicles across Sydney.  

The new pilot program will see to the transitioning of diesel buses to electric, upgrading the charging infrastructure and retrofitting the bus depot in Leichhardt, NSW. 

The project is being delivered through a joint venture between Transgrid and Zenobe, with support from Transit Systems and Transport for NSW. 

A $29.5 million investment has been provided by the Australian Government to support the program.  

This includes $24.5 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and $5 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).  

Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said the Commonwealth and State Governments are working together to reduce emissions in the road and transport sectors by focusing on technology and testing innovative commercial models.  

“The aim of the pilot is to show the technical and commercial viability of using electric buses travelling a full route without the need to stop to recharge along the way,” Minister Taylor said.  

“This significant investment will establish the nation’s first fully-integrated electric bus depot, allowing other fleet operators to better understand commercial implications and make informed choices about new technologies.”

NSW Minister for Transport Rob Stokes said NSW is leading the way with the largest fleet of electric buses in Australia. 

“We’ve set an ambitious target to transition our fleet of 8,000 buses to Zero Emission technology by 2030 and this project is a huge step in that direction,” Minister Stokes said. 

“The innovative financing model adopted means we’re able to deliver 40 new electric buses for the Inner West quickly, at no extra cost to the NSW taxpayer.”

NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy and the Environment Matt Kean said he was looking forward to more innovative projects focused on reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and driving a cleaner future for public transport. 

The first 12 of the 40 new electric buses will start entering service this month, with the rest of the fleet arriving over the next 6 months. 

Source: Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Media Release

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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