The first Transperth electric bus is being prepared in Perth for a trial in Joondalup.
The electric buses will be trialled on the Joondalup CAT (Central Area Transit) bus route from early 2022 and will mark the first time that electric buses will operate on the Transperth network.
The trial aims to evaluate the reliability and efficiency of the buses. Factors such as performance, energy efficiency, emissions reductions, life-cycle costs, and risks will all be considered.
The vehicles will undergo a commissioning process over the coming months, including licensing and final testing before they receive a unique livery.
The new bus is the first of two models set to be trailed don the Joondalup route, with the second due to delivery in late 2021.
The trial vehicles will be supplied by Volvo, following a $549 million bus supply contract which was awarded in March 2019. As part of the contract, Volvo buses, in partnership with Volgren Australia, is supplying 90 buses a year for five years.
The Joondalup bus depot has been upgraded to accommodate the new electric buses. These upgrades include a high-voltage EV charging system, with the electric buses to be recharged at the depot, partly from a 100kW solar power array and battery storage system.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the trial would help to gain a greater understanding of the technology.
“Trialling new, green technology is a great use of our public transport network – already one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get around Perth,” Saffioti said. “Over time, we hope to introduce electric buses on other parts of the Transperth network, such as on Perth CAT bus routes.”
“We also plan to build these electric buses in WA, creating more jobs for Western Australians,” she added.
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