Electric buses can reduce costs, improve air quality and support local industries

In Australia, technology and industry are ready for policy support to aid the transition from diesel. Precision Buses in Adelaide is producing electric buses locally as part of contracts with South Australia, NSW, Queensland and Victoria and Australia’s largest bus body manufacturer, Volgren has begun production of electric buses at their headquarters in Melbourne.

Electric buses cut costs, improve air quality and support local industries.

In December 2019, ClimateWorks Australia was invited to make a submission to the New South Wales government inquiry into electric buses for regional and metropolitan public transport networks. With transport currently contributing 21% of the state’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonising transport systems is critical to achieving the NSW Government’s net zero emissions objective. States have the chance to drive a rapid transition to reduce emissions by electrifying bus fleets and powering vehicles with 100% renewable energy.

Existing trials show the moment is ready to be seized. Transit Systems Leichhardt depot is trialling electric buses on some of Sydney’s busiest routes. Premier is already trialling an electric bus from their Nowra depot, with reports that the bus can cover 290km per day across 15 hour shifts, returning with a 45% charged battery, and that the electric bus has reduced daily running costs 72% compared to diesel buses. Public transport can be powered by renewable energy, as demonstrated with Sydney’s Metro NorthWest sourcing all the project electricity needs from NSW’s Beryl Solar Farm.

Read the ClimateWorks story - “Electric buses can reduce costs, improve air quality and support local industries.”