Australia’s BusTech to build e-buses for Queensland
In Australia, local supplier BusTech has scored an order from Queensland. The continent’s second-largest state is part of a strategic agreement worth $15.6 million with Keolis Downer and BusTech to deliver 16 e-buses made in Queensland.
The deal between the two companies and the Queensland Government will also see the state’s first 100% electric bus depot, set to be built in North Lakes at the HQ of the local Hornibrook Bus Lines.
“We are proud to be partnering with the Queensland Government to transition our North Lakes depot to 100% battery-electric buses,” said David Franks, CEO of Keolis Downer, which will operate the buses.
BusTech Queensland will build the first electric bus from this agreement at its facility on the Gold Coast. Delivery is set in September 2022, with the remaining 15 electric buses to enter service by late-2023.
The e-bus deal is expected to create and support 150 jobs over the next two years and entice over $17 million of estimated value into the Queensland economy for local suppliers and contractors.
Queensland operates on a target to ensure that by 2025 every new urban bus added to the fleet in Southeast Queensland will be zero-emissions, which will be followed by the rest of the urban fleet across the state by 2030.
This is in line with other electric transportation initiatives in Australia, notably New South Wales, which has fast-forwarded the state’s bus fleet’s transition to electric to 2030 as well reportedly. NSW has also opted for BusTech to deliver the vehicles and wants to buy 120 electric buses in 2021 and ultimately plan to convert all 8,000 buses in its fleet by 2030.
BusTech said it would set up a factory in NSW with production to commence this year. The company also builds electric buses at factories in South Australia, Tasmania, and of course Queensland.
The e-buses headed for Queensland will employ BusTech’s ZDi architecture which enables various sizes. For the e-drive technology, the company appears to rely on Proterra.
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