ABC #397

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH 

ABC 

ISSUE 397 September 2020 $5.95 inc GST 

BUSTECH AND 

PROTERRA 

SIGN LANDMARK 

E-BUS DEAL 

WEST OZ GOVT 

FUEL-CELL 

MINING BUS 

ANNOUNCEMENT 

RALLY FOR HELP 

FAMILY, PRIVATE BUS 

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their teams, our supplier partners and industry associations who are contributing to 

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11A Gibbon Road Winston Hills NSW 2153 Australia 

Telephone: +612 8867 6200

contents 

ISSUE 397 SEPTEMBER 2020 

08 

28 

in the know 

6. editorial | ignition 

Family bus companines ‘on the 

brink’, lockdown protests – it’s all 

happening, writes editor Cotter. 

8. news | the front line 

We’ve gathered up all the key, 

hardhitting Australasian and 

international bus and coach news 

for you, to keep you in the loop. 

20. column | BIC 

GETTING PREPARED FOR 

ELECTRIC 

Emerging new bus technology 

sees transition to new energy 

propulsion, says Michael Apps. 

in focus 

26. in focus | volgren veterans 

VOLGREN BUS VETERANS 

CELEBRATED 

Two Volgren industry stalwarts 

are having their combined 

bus service stints of more than 

80 years celebrated via the 

company’s unique ‘Local Content, 

Local Jobs’ story series. 

28. in focus | transdev 

melbourne 

TRANSDEV MELBOURNE 

100-BUS FLEET UPGRADE 

COMPLETES 

The final 14 units of Victoria’s 

single-biggest order of 

replacement buses in 25 years 

have headed into service around 

metropolitan routes. 

34. coverstory | foton fuel cell 

RISE OF HYDROGEN 

Foton’s ambition to bring its 

first electro-mobility buses to 

Australian soil is much closer 

than many would expect. With 

March next year the target 

4 

ABC September 2020 busnews.com.au

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EDITORIAL 

Editor: Fabian Cotter 

ph: 0451 194 600 

e-mail: fcotter@bauer-media.com.au 

Technical Writer: Paul Aldridge 

Contributors: Michael Apps, Anjali Behl 

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SA/WA Sales: Nick Lenthall 

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44 

and local trials planned, the 

countdown clock to hitting 

Aussie roads is ticking – fast. 

Fabian Cotter finds out more. 

44. operator | brisbane bus lines 

SERVE WITH CARE 

Co-MD of family run Brisbane 

Bus Lines Lara-Jane Mitchell 

believes one of the greatest 

strengths of their business is the 

ability to be flexible and adapt 

to change. Something her father, 

Ian Mitchell, can vouch for in his 

36-year run in the business. Anjali 

Behl writes. 

62. driven | man blk president 

THE FIRST PRESIDENT 

MAN partnered with Bus and 

Coach Sales Australasia/Bonluck 

(BCSA) mid-2019 to give the 

market a quality yet affordable 

school/charter vehicle to 

compete with other OEMs. The 

MAN Bonluck President is the 

very first of its kind and aimed 

specifically at the school bus and 

charter market. Paul Aldridge 

reports from Queensland. 

We are a people 

business, not just a 

bus company. 

departments 

50. bus marketplace | classifieds 

FOR SALE! 

There’s hundreds of great 

vehicles and services listed here 

from some of the leading bus 

and coach companies on the 

planet. Have a look around and 

see what you might find in there! 

58. factory facts | bus deliveries 

MONTHLY RESULTS 

We know you love them and so 

we have the latest bus and coach 

supplier sales data collected and 

recorded for you to sink your 

teeth into. To know who is who 

and who’s done what simply 

check it out! 

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busnews.com.au September 2020 ABC 

5

IGNITION 

FABIAN COTTER 

Dazed and confused 

Bus industry pain, virus ups and downs, protest rallies, fact checking, 

deleted posts and new political parties. Mate, what is going on? 

yourselves from 

mental slavery, none but 

ourselves can free our minds.” 

“Emancipate 

What exactly Bob Marley was 

on when coming up with such epic lyrics 

is probably more an issue of quantity and 

quality than mere type, but their guiding 

resonance, soul soothing for the masses 

– and even just individuals - in varying 

contexts can do much good. 

The pandemic-stress elephant isn’t just 

in the room for many of us out there in 

bus land; it’s pulled up a seat nice and 

close with a little mask on his trunk, trying 

to do as recommended while questioning 

its effectiveness and relevance, waiting for 

the circus to get back on the road. 

Yep, right about now, said elephant 

is picturing stale old peanuts as 

immeasurable bliss even against the 

backdrop of the pain and angst from 

the ringmaster’s whip cracks and 

cattle-prods. Not good. 

I say this because over the months 

we have heard bits and pieces of what 

people are going through, and just when 

you think maybe it might not be that bad, 

this continues to go on and on – and it is 

all taking its toll. 

As I am writing this, a mobile bus rally 

is on its way to the NSW Parliament 

house – a bonding of about 60 family 

and independent bus businesses 

demonstrating that they are doing it 

tough and need help. 

As I’m sure their plights are mirrored 

Australasia-wide, our thoughts are with 

them as they highlight the financial, 

mental and probably physical toll this is 

taking on them. We wish them well. 

And on that note, a gentle reminder 

that there is a range of great outlets to 

seek support from, available from the 

federal government via HealthDirect and 

BeyondBlue and also closer to the bus 

industry like BIC’s Healthwise Corner with 

Nikki Brouwers from Navigate Health. 

Seriously, if anyone needs to reach out 

to them, just ‘emancipate your mind’ and 

contact them. You will feel better for even 

doing so. 

BUS REPRESENTATION 

Speaking of BIC, it’s doing some great 

work representing the pandemic’s impact 

to us as a whole to government, with 

extensions to JobKeeper sought to help 

many bus businesses of all sizes stay in the 

game as best possible. 

It is a balancing act between employee 

rights and keeping businesses going, but 

in the short-term hopefully things can all 

come together. 

Only recently did BIC report our industry 

being mentioned at high levels, with 

long-standing NSW operator Crowthers 

being the case in point. 

PROVOKING THOUGHTS 

What a month it has been, which again 

feels longer than ever, with much 

seemingly going on. From mass lockdown 

protests here and overseas to vaccine 

‘successes’ and vaccine ‘problems’. To cases 

up to cases down. From borders open to 

borders closed. Man, it’s all happening. 

Even the Magna Carta’s been bandied 

about and I’ve not heard that since school. 

Felt like a millennia and thought it was a 

new Italian dish for a second there. ;). 

It gave me a good chance to do some 

refreshing, though, which led me to the 

powerful Australian Constitution and who 

does what and why - and for whom. Great 

stuff on some government websites got 

me away from the bleedin’ television. 

Loved it! Perfect de-stress time and a 

good cuppa and a few chocolate bickies 

methinks. Ah, now this is living… :) 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE… 

ABC magazine Issue 397 hears exclusively 

about Foton Australia’s new EV bus range 

coming here soon, with its hydrogen 

fuel-cell city bus gracing this month’s 

cover. With Foton’s first fuel-cell buses 

appearing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics 

Games, it firmly has had its hat in this ring 

for a while now, so it will be interesting to 

see how it handles the Aussie conditions. 

Also inside we re-visit industry favourite 

Brisbane Bus Lines, whose new premises 

is looking great at a time the company’s 

adjusting to pandemic-induced change 

for now. Lara-Jane Mitchell represents the 

next gen holding the fort and steering the 

ship through these tough times. 

In terms of test drive reviews we visit 

Queensland once again to sample MAN’s 

latest project on a classy BLK President 

body. Whisper quiet and with ample 

grunt for its needs, reviewer Paul Aldridge 

seemed to be a big fan. 

In addition to this, our In Focus pieces 

check out Transdev Melbourne’s big 

Scania bus fleet upgrade completion 

while also paying tribute to two veteran 

Volgren employees with in excess of a 

combined 80 years of bus experience 

between them. Great stuff! 

Now, there was some big news over 

the past month; Bustech’s in a technical 

partnership with North America’s Proterra, 

the WA government’s announced 

a big hydrogen push for its mining 

industry – ultimately there’s some Hyzon 

fuel-cell coaches in the mix of that – and 

MAN-Penske has started its key Surfside 

“The pandemic-stress elephant isn’t 

just in the room for many of us out 

there in bus land; it’s pulled up a seat 

nice and close.” 

Queensland bus order. Volvo Bus Australia 

is also gearing up for its 50th anniversary 

celebrations next year and, by the time 

you read this, the UITP Zero-Emissions Bus 

online forum gets underway soon. 

Australian bus deliveries took a bit of 

hit in August, though – but that was to 

be anticipated at some point and in an 

industry-historical context it’s still better 

than it has been. 

Still, it is what it is. We can’t make 

up the news, we just report it. Because 

making up the news and reporting it to 

change and influence people’s thoughts, 

opinions and decisions would be very, 

very bad. In fact, it’s basically evil in a can. 

But I digress. 

Until the next thrilling instalment… 

6 


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ABC-FP-5211257-CS-387

NEWS 

BUSTECH AND PROTERRA 

IN LANDMARK E-BUS DEAL 

NORTH AMERICAN electric bus 

innovator Proterra and Australian 

bus builder Bustech are to 

collaborate on making e-buses for 

the local market, the companies 

announced recently. 

The selection of Proterra Powered 

battery technology for Bustech’s 

new ZDi 12.5-metre all-electric 

transit bus represents Proterra’s 

official entry into the Australian bus 

market, it states. 

“Everybody within our 

organisation is extremely excited to 

be in a partnership with Proterra,” 

said Bustech CEO and ex-ZF 

executive Thinus Steyn. 

“We have up-skilled the group 

over the last six months with the 

capacity and capability to bring 

the ZDi Proterra Powered electric 

vehicle to market in early 2021 

and have a significant number of 

orders in the pipeline, which we 

have been working on in advance 

of the announcement of our 

partnership,” Steyn said. 

Under the partnership, 

Bustech will incorporate Proterra’s 

battery technology into the 

single-deck ZDi’s integrated 

chassis systems, Bustech’s parent 

entity Australia Bus Corporation 

(ABC) confirms. 

The Proterra battery system for the 

ZDi will feature 450kWh capacity, 

which will enable an estimated 

325km of driving range on a single 

charge, the company claims. The 

vehicle can fully charge in about two 

hours, it adds. 

DOUBLE-DECK E-BUSES? 

“Our best-in-class battery technology 

platform has been proven in more 

than 13 million service miles driven 

by our fleet of battery electric transit 

buses in the United States and 

Canada. Now, we look forward to 

delivering the benefits of Proterra 

Powered clean, quiet electric 

vehicles to even more people 

around the world,” said Jack Allen, 

Proterra CEO and chairman. 

Group managing director at 

Bustech and Precision Buses, 

Christian Reynolds, stated: 

“This relationship reflects the 

intended transformation within 

the current market. Being able to 

bring a US technology company like 

Proterra to Australia is a fantastic 

opportunity to assist in the rapid 

growth expectations and maturing 

of BEVs in Australia. 

“Together with Proterra, we have 

aspirations to quickly scale in the 

market. We see this solution scaling 

across all variants of vehicle within 

our range, including articulated and 

double-decker buses.” 

THE BATTERIES 

According to Proterra, its battery 

packs incorporate advanced features 

such as liquid cooling with an active 

thermal management system that 

will ensure optimal charging and 

maximise battery life by maintaining 

a constant battery temperature in 

Australia’s demanding climate. 

The technical partnership will 

use Proterra’s battery technology 

Pictured: 

The Proterra 

battery system 

for the ZDi will 

feature 450kWh 

capacity, which 

will enable an 

estimated 325km 

of driving range on 

a single charge, the 

company claims. 

while ensuring overall vehicle 

manufacturing and assembly is 

consistent with local supply chains 

on shore in Australia, they state. 

Operating as a core technology 

partner, Proterra will provide 

training and development support 

to strengthen Bustech’s in-country 

service network and experience with 

the battery product, ABC confirms. 

Proterra batteries are 

manufactured with safety 

mechanisms built directly into 

the battery architecture and have 

undergone extensive testing to meet 

the exacting safety standards, the 

company says. 

Proterra battery systems 

incorporate Proterra’s patented 

technology, monitoring sensors 

throughout the battery pack, and 

passive propagation resistance, 

which isolates individual battery 

cells in the rare case of a thermal 

event to prevent wider spread, it 

explains. 

“We have been really impressed 

with the battery technology from 

Proterra, with its energy density 

and inbuilt control system. This 

will translate into a vehicle with 

unparalleled performance and 

safety,” said Gregg Dinning, 

Bustech’s chief technical officer. 

“Our aim is to introduce product 

“Our aim is to introduce 

product which is 

deployable into 

operating networks 

without having to 

remodel the full fleet or 

depot service model.” 

8 


which is deployable into operating 

networks without having to remodel 

the full fleet or depot service model. 

“By delivering an estimated 

325km range per drive cycle we 

can support operators through 

adoption and roll-out of full electric 

vehicles, based on the battery 

energy levels, whilst acknowledging 

and dealing with the specific 

climatic conditions we face in 

Australia,” Dinning added. 

LOCAL JOBS 

Established in 1995, Bustech 

developed the first electric bus in 

Australia and is recognised as a 

leader in innovation and electric 

vehicle product development in 

the Australasian market, it states. 

In 2019, Bustech joined with the 

Australian Bus Corporation (ABC) to 

form the largest bus manufacturer 

in Australia. 

The partnership with Proterra 

will deliver a vehicle designed 

for maximum range and support 

Bustech’s commitment to creating 

local jobs and engaging the local 

supply chain, it says. 

Australia continues to be a 

global leader in adopting electric 

transit vehicles as more states and 

municipalities commit to bold 

transportation electrification targets, 

it highlights. 

In 2019, the NSW State 

Government announced plans to 

transition its fleet of approximately 

8,000 transit buses to all-electric. 

OEM SUPPLY 

Proterra Powered leverages 

Proterra’s electric vehicle technology 

and expertise to help commercial 

vehicle manufacturers electrify their 

vehicles, it says. 

As an OEM that uses its own 

battery technology to power its 

fleet of heavy-duty electric transit 

buses, Proterra brings more 

than a decade of experience 

manufacturing, testing and 

delivering EVs, it states. 

To date, Proterra Powered has 

helped world-class OEMs like 

Thomas Built Bus, Van Hool, FCCC, 

and Optimal-EV introduce 100 per 

cent battery-electric vehicles that 

are powered by Proterra electric 

vehicle technology, it confirms. 

MAN-PENSKE SURFSIDE CITY 

BUS ORDER STARTS 

The first of a 15-bus MAN-chassis fleet to 

Queensland-based Surfside Buslines has 

started, with the Bustech and Volgrenbodied 

units due for service on the Gold 

Coast and in the NSW Tweed Shire, local 

distributor Penske Australia reports. 

According to the company, the 15 MAN 

LE 19.320 Euro 5 route buses are low entry 

and low floor ensuring, “…great accessibility 

along with unparalleled comfort for drivers 

and passengers.” 

With the first unit delivered on August, 

24 2020, the remainder of the units are 

scheduled for delivery between now and 

the end of the year, the company explains. 

“MAN Truck & Bus and Penske Australia 

have a long-standing relationship with 

Surfside Buslines’ sister company SkyBus in 

Australia and New Zealand, so it’s fantastic 

to be able to extend our partnership to 

Surfside Buslines, now part of Kinetic 

Group,” said Crinel Geaboc, head of bus 

and coach at Penske Australia. 

“Surfside Buslines was looking for a 

low-entry solution that was very reliable, 

fuel efficient, and high performing with 

outstanding service intervals, and the LE 

19.320 Euro 5 delivers exactly that. 

“At 320hp [239kW], the Euro 5 engine is 

powerful yet economical and whisper-quiet 

making it ideal for highly-populated areas. 

“This 4x2 RC2 configuration has a 

favourably high gross vehicle mass of 19 

tonnes and comes with an electronicallycontrolled 

air suspension and an electronic 

braking system. 

“We are confident that these buses will 

be well accepted by the team at Surfside 

Buslines and members of the public,” 

Geaboc explained. 

ABOUT PENSKE 

Penske Australia is a leading supplier of 

the world’s finest heavy-duty trucks, diesel 

engines, gas engines, and power systems. 

Distributing the Western Star Trucks, 

MAN Truck & Bus, Dennis Eagle, MTU, 

Detroit, and Allison Transmission brands, 

the company operates across the most 

dynamic markets including on-highway 

and various off-highway industries such as 

mining, power generation, construction 

and industrial, rail, marine, oil and gas, 

agriculture, and defence, it states. 

Penske Australia also represents 

aftermarket products from leading oil, 

coolant, and filter brands, it confirms. 

It is also the appointed retail dealer 

of these brands across select locations 

providing full retail sales, service, and parts 

functions, it says. 

With more than 950 employees, the 

company is, “…committed to providing 

the most comprehensive 24/7 after-sales 

support through a network of strategically 

located branches and field locations, and 

more than 100 dealers,” it adds. 

Penske Australia is wholly owned by 

international transportation services 

company, Penske Automotive Group, Inc. 

(NYSE: PAG), and operates independently to 

service its customer base. 

Above L-R: John Schneider, technical support 

rep Bus; Crinel Geaboc, head of bus and coach at 

Penske Australia; and Mark Nichols – regional sales 

manager MAN Bus. 


9

NEWS 

director Paul Davies said: “With 

the market’s widest range of clean 

buses, we have been able to meet 

National Express Group’s fleet 

requirements as it begins 

the transition from buying diesel 

to zero-emission buses, allowing 

us to grow our long-standing 

relationship. 

“We look forward to continuing to 

support National Express as it moves 

towards the bold target of having a 

fully zero emission bus fleet in the 

West Midlands by 2030.” 

INITIAL NATIONAL 

EXPRESS DOUBLE-DECK 

E-BUS ORDER COMPLETES 

AS PART OF a batch of 29 ADL-BYD 

Enviro400EV double-deck electric 

buses aiding UK operator National 

Express making its zero-emission 

transition, the remaining 10 units 

have been delivered for service in 

Coventry, the companies jointly 

announced recently. 

Following the first 19 buses 

starting service in Birmingham 

earlier this year, Alexander Dennis 

Limited (ADL) and BYD Europe 

jointly announced the delivery of the 

remaining 10 double-deckers in line 

with the operator’s pledge to “never 

buy another diesel bus”. 

ADL is a subsidiary of leading 

independent global bus 

manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI), 

while BYD is a global leader in 

batteries, energy management and 

electric mobility, they state. 

With the latest “clean buses” 

having entered service in Coventry, 

it links the city centre and University 

Hospital, the companies explain. 

Built to National Express’s 

Platinum standard, the 10.9m-long 

ADL-BYD Enviro400EV offers 

extra legroom for up to 65 seated 

passengers, as well as USB chargers 

and free Wi-Fi, ADL confirms. An 

advanced heat pump system 

ensures that saloon heating power 

is supplied efficiently from the main 

batteries without unduly impacting 

operational range, it adds. 

OPTIMISED ENERGY 

To simplify the transition to electric 

buses for National Express, the 

382kW/h BYD iron-phosphate 

batteries on each vehicle are 

maintained by Zenobe Energy – one 

the UK’s largest owner-operators of 

mobile and stationary batteries – 

which provides them to the operator 

along with the charging system at 

the depot and a software platform 

that helps monitor and optimise 

energy use, ADL explains. 

David Bradford, managing 

director of National Express Bus, 

said: “Buses are already one of the 

cleanest ways to travel and as a 

leading transport operator we are 

determined to go even further. 

“Earlier this year we announced 

our ambition to have a 

zero-emission bus fleet from 2030, 

so we’re very proud that National 

Express is bringing fully electric 

buses to the people of Coventry. 

“By working together in 

partnership we are determined 

to improve bus services and drive 

down pollution and emissions, 

which contribute to poor air quality 

and climate change.” 

ADL president and managing 

Above and 

Below: 

“Were very proud 

that National 

Express is bringing 

fully electric buses 

to the people of 

Coventry,” said 

David Bradford, 

managing director 

of National 

Express Bus. 

TANGIBLE BENEFITS 

BYD (UK) managing director Frank 

Thorpe said: “The commitment to a 

zero-emissions fleet from National 

Express is as commendable as it is 

bold, and is indicative of more and 

more public transport operators 

who see electrification in particular 

as a viable long-term solution for 

their scheduled routes. 

“Our BYD ADL Enviro400EV 

double-decker is a proven product, 

already in service with a growing 

number of customers, delivering 

tangible operational benefits and 

providing safe, quiet, emissions-free 

transport for their passengers.” 

Zenobe Energy co-founder Steven 

Meersman said: “We are delighted 

to see our partnership with National 

Express, ADL and BYD expand to 

Coventry in our second joint depot 

in the Midlands. 

“This project perfectly 

demonstrates how Zenobe’s 

seamless solutions, powered by 

our proprietary management 

software that guarantees charging 

levels and battery range over 

the life of the vehicles, helps 

National Express meet its net-zero 

commitments in a frictionless, 

financially sustainable way.” 

10 


FAMILY BUS BUSINESSES ‘ON THE BRINK’ 

DOZENS of family owned and 

independent bus operators and 

businesses are “on the brink of 

collapse, thousands of drivers 

could lose their jobs and ‘mum 

and dad’ operators stand to lose 

their homes”, as an impact of 

Covid-19 restrictions, according 

to NSW bus rally organisers. 

To highlight their plight and 

lobby for a government rescue 

package, desperate small bus 

company owners rallied outside 

NSW Parliament on Wednesday, 

September 16. 

Spokesman Rod Williams, who 

owns Near or Far Bus & Coach 

in the state’s Blue Mountains 

region, says while smaller bus 

companies were grateful for 

government help, such as 

JobKeeper, many aspects of the 

industry had been overlooked. 

As “forgotten victims of the 

Covid-19 fallout”, small bus and 

coach companies needed help with 

crippling costs like depot rental 

payments, vehicle registration, 

insurances, fuel costs and toll fees 

to remain viable and provide job 

security for employees, he explained. 

The group is calling for the state 

government to share transport work 

with all accredited operators in NSW 

rather than just large companies, he 

added. 

Within 24 hours on March 15–16, 

“everything was stripped from our 

calendar” as travel restrictions put 

the brakes on school excursions, 

community group outings and 

sightseeing tours, Williams explains. 

A second round of cancellations 

when the Victorian pandemic 

worsened gouged his business 

further, he says. 

Cyril Govender of Cyril’s Coach 

Tours at Narellan and Andy Leonello 

of Al Tours at Luddenham – who 

relied on the school transport 

market – haven’t ‘turned the wheel’ 

of their vehicles since March. 

While owners were grateful 

for JobKeeper payments, which 

ensured they could keep many staff, 

the allowance did not cover vehicle 

maintenance and running costs. 

As the end-of-loan repayment 

holiday periods loom, bus owners 

who invested in their business 

before the pandemic now face 

foreclosure on their vehicles because 

they are unable to meet the 

payments, the group says. 

Below: 

The mobile 

bus rally group 

is calling for 

the NSW State 

Government to 

share transport 

work with all 

accredited 

operators in 

NSW rather 

than just large 

companies, it 

pleads. 

Workhorse Collision 

Repairs and Fleet 

Maintenance 

02 8882-4700 

workhorsetrucks.com.au 


11

NEWS 

WA INVESTING IN HYDROGEN 

MINING BUSES 

AS PART of a major Western 

Australia Government 

announcement on renewable 

hydrogen production, use and the 

de-carbonisation of vehicle fleets, 

Hyzon Motors fuel-cell buses will 

power Fortescue Metals Group’s 

mining industry “carbon-neutral 

pursuit”, it’s been announced. 

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd’s 

selection of Hyzon to deploy 

its hydrogen fuel cell-powered 

coaches to the Christmas 

Creek iron ore mine – as part 

of Fortescue’s commitment to 

accelerating emissions reduction 

in its mining operations – will 

mean hydrogen-powered coaches 

operating in the Pilbara mining 

region of Western Australia as a 

direct replacement of traditional 

diesel coaches, it states. 

Hyzon Motors fuel-cell coaches 

will start operating in the Pilbara 

from mid-2021, it reports. 

Previous deployments of 

fuel-cell buses were limited to 

city cycles, where the average 

speed is very low, Hyzon explains. 

Higher powered fuel cells from 

Hyzon, typically deployed in trucks, 

will be used to ensure suitable 

performance from hydrogen 

coaches, it confirms. 

Hydrogen is emerging as a 

crucial component of the future 

energy landscape, with the heavy 

transport and equipment sector 

becoming a key target for the 

implementation of clean energy 

alternatives by the mining industry. 

“It is an honour to be entrusted 

with this important step in the 

decarbonisation journey being 

undertaken by a leading global 

mining company, and Hyzon 

Motors is committed to deploying 

not only zero-emission vehicles, 

but also the most reliable vehicles 

operating in the Pilbara region 

of Western Australia,” said Craig 

Knight, co-founder of Hyzon 

Motors. 

Julie Shuttleworth, Fortescue 

deputy chief executive officer, said: 

“Fortescue’s history of developing 

and adopting innovation and 

technology has been key to 

achieving our industry-leading 

cost position and we are applying 

this technology-first strategy to 

our hydrogen initiatives to ensure 

we remain at the forefront of this 

emerging industry. 

“Fortescue’s mobile fleet 

represents around 400 to 450 

million litres of diesel consumption 

per year and presents a significant 

opportunity for hydrogen to be 

used as a replacement fuel source 

to accelerate emissions reduction 

and diversify our energy mix,” 

Shuttleworth explained. 

WHY MINING? 

Heavy transport was identified 

as one of the most promising 

applications for hydrogen in 

Australia’s ‘National Hydrogen 

Strategy’, which was commissioned 

by the COAG Energy Council in 

November 2019, and was also 

highlighted as highly impactful by 

the Hydrogen for Transport study 

commissioned by the Australian 

Department of Industry, Innovation 

and Science to investigate the 

factors in establishing hydrogen 

as a ubiquitous fuel in Australia 

by 2030. 

Pictured: 

Hyzon Motors 

fuel-cell coaches 

will start operating 

in the Pilbara 

from mid-2021, 

it reports. 

“It is an honour to be 

entrusted with this 

important step in 

the decarbonisation 

journey.” 

12 


2020 ONLINE 

ZERO- 

EMISSION 

BUS FORUM 

ANNOUNCED 

EIGHT INTERACTIVE online sessions 

will constitute the first zero-emissions 

bus (ZEB) forum for the Australasian 

region, to be held October 1–November 

19, organiser The International 

Association of Public Transport in 

Australia New Zealand (UITPANZ) has 

announced, recently. 

The event – with ‘premium sponsor’ 

Transport for NSW and ‘gold sponsors’ 

Arup and L.E.K. Consulting – over the 

eight sessions will include webinars 

and a World Café, UITPANZ confirms. 

According to organisers it will, “bring 

together public transport authorities, 

policymakers, operators, OEMs and bus 

manufacturers, technology and energy 

providers, charging solution suppliers 

and battery manufacturers, consultants 

and researchers to share knowledge 

and collaborate on the future of ZEBs 

in Australia and New Zealand”. 

UITPANZ executive director Michelle 

Batsas and general manager Angé 

Anczewska will facilitate the ZEB 

Forum, with the goal being to shape 

the future of sustainable mobility in 

Australia and New Zealand, they state. 

“Covid-19 has presented many 

challenges for the public transport 

industry, but authorities and operators 

are eager to seize the chance to 

make our transport systems more 

sustainable,” Batsas said. 

“Public transport is vital to a clean, 

healthy future for our communities 

and the ZEB Forum will be pivotal in 

shaping that vision.” 

Full details and registrations for the 

ZEB Forum are available at https:// 

encore.com.au/UITP/ZEB-Forum/ 

register.php 

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13

NEWS 

aviation sectors, and while the 

vehicles, routes and altitude may 

be different, we are people serving 

people – and the expectations 

around safe, friendly and 

professional service remain the 

same,” Birch said. 

“We are proud to have such 

amazing talent joining us at 

Transdev,” he added. 

EX-AVIATION STAFF 

NOW IN NEW BUS ROLES 

AN INCREASING NUMBER of 

former employees collectively from 

Australasia’s biggest airlines are 

now quickly adapting their skills to 

work ‘closer to the ground’, finding 

work with public transport provider 

Transdev, the company states. 

Close to 30 ex-airline staffers 

thus far have transitioned as new 

employees to public transport from 

the aviation sector since March 

and the company was fielding 

increased interest, confirms Transdev 

Australasia’s chief People and 

Culture officer Paul Birch. 

“To their credit, governments 

in Australia and New Zealand 

have continued to support public 

transport services during the 

pandemic, keeping our cities’ 

vital transport options open to 

those in our community who rely 

on it, and this means we’ve been 

in the positive position of being 

able to offer new employment 

opportunities,” Birch said. 

“The aviation sector is renowned 

for its focus on safety, operational 

excellence, and a strong customer 

service culture, which are areas that 

very much align with our business 

and the public transport industry 

at large. 

“Already our new employees are 

making a noticeable contribution 

to the business, commencing roles 

as trainee train drivers or bus drivers, 

customer service, or in corporate 

services.” 

GOOD SPREAD 

Of the current 27 ex-aviation 

employees, their new roles have 

been shared across Transdev’s 

Australian and New Zealand 

operations with 13 based in 

Auckland and the remainder in 

Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. 

Previous roles held by Transdev’s 

new recruits range from domestic 

and international pilots, cabin crew, 

guest services, trainers and ground 

staff, confirms Transdev. 

Birch himself was a previous 

veteran of the aviation sector, having 

worked for both Ansett in Australia 

and Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, 

the company states. 

“There are a lot of synergies 

between the public transport and 

Above: 

Ex-Qantas 787-9 

second officer 

Chris Davis [left] 

and ex-Jetstar 

787-8 first officer 

Clint Butcher 

now both drive 

urban and 

charter services at 

Transdev Brisbane. 

BRISBANE BOUND 

Ex-Qantas 787-9 second officer 

Chris Davis and ex-Jetstar 787-8 

first officer Clint Butcher have both 

started working with Transdev 

Brisbane. 

Commentating to ABC magazine 

about their roles, Chris Davis said: 

“It’s really good to have secure 

employment, after being stood 

down, and not too many prospects 

in the aviation sector.” 

“The company has been fantastic. 

The role itself, bus driving - there are 

a lot of similarities to our day-to-day 

work as pilots.” 

“The role of bus driving is a lot 

more face-to-face, though this is no 

different to previous roles that we’ve 

had as pilots in smaller aircraft.” 

Clint Butcher added: “I feel like 

it has been a fairly easy transition 

from flying to bus driving. There’s 

not too many dissimilarities to 

the roles, obviously one is being 

in an aircraft and the other is in 

a bus. Aviation – much the same 

as bus driving – is primarily about 

customer service. 

“In both instances it is the 

passengers that we are here for. 

It is about getting them from point 

A to B as efficiently and as safely 

as possible. 

“In both aviation and bus driving 

there is an expectation that it’s 

going to be a safe journey.” 

14 


AAT KINGS ANNOUNCES NEW CEO 

BRINGING A WEALTH of tourism 

experience, The Travel Corporation (TTC) 

has announced Matt Fuller as the new CEO 

of AAT Kings Group, replacing outgoing 

CEO Matthew Cameron-Smith, who joins 

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia as 

CEO, it’s reported recently. 

As of September 21, Fuller is leading a 

combined team across AAT Kings’ Guided 

Holidays, Short Breaks and Day Tours, as 

well as its Small Group collection, Inspiring 

Journeys, SEIT Outback Australia and Down 

Under Tours, TTC explains. 

Fuller has worked in private and publicly 

listed companies, a Packer family business, 

NSW Government Business Enterprises 

and, more recently, in Transport for NSW. 

He has also served as a non-executive 

director and trustee on a number of 

boards, including the Sydney Opera House, 

TTC states. 

“I am thrilled to take on the role as 

CEO for the AAT Kings Group, such a 

well-respected brand and company to 

be a part of,” Fuller stated. 

“It’s been an incredibly tough year for 

tourism and a challenging road ahead, 

which is why our communities need us 

now more than ever – I look forward to 

working closely and collaboratively with the 

industry to aid in the road to recovery. 

“I strongly believe in tourism and the very 

positive role it will play in our economic 

recovery, and to ensure a smooth transition 

for when the borders open up,” he said. 

TTC director David Hosking commented: 

“We are delighted to welcome Matt to our 

team. Matt’s keen commercial acumen 

and proven leadership capability, valuable 

relationships, ability to establish a culture 

of operational excellence - and track record 

of delivering quality customer, community 

and business outcomes - are all assets to 

the AAT Kings Group as we go forward 

in providing immediate support in our 

operations.” 

SIGNIFICANT RECOGNITION 

An operator at heart, Fuller has led 

single-site and multiple-location-based 

operations, holding state and national 

level responsibilities to deliver exciting, 

Above: “I am thrilled to take on the role as CEO 

for the AAT Kings Group, such a well-respected 

brand and company to be a part of,” Matt Fuller 

stated. 

high profile projects, TTC states. 

Fuller is particularly well known for 

creating a new business model for the 

Taronga Western Plains Zoo – leading 

the design and development of a 

capital-investment programme that 

delivered key assets, including three unique 

adventure-accommodation properties and 

other complementary infrastructure. 


15

NEWS 

VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA 

NEARS 50TH BIRTHDAY 

THE RETRO SPOTLIGHT is shining 

on select historic Volvo buses as the 

Swedish manufacturer prepares to 

celebrate 50 years of operating in 

Australia, it reports. 

The significant milestone is 

helping highlight key bus and 

coach clubs and groups nationwide 

– such as the Tasmanian Bus & 

Coach Society (TBCS) – where retro 

collections harbour iconic vehicles 

that keep alive Volvo’s long bus 

history in the Australasian region, 

it states. 

TBSC currently owns 11 vintage 

buses, three of which are Volvos. 

These historic Volvo buses include: a 

1978 B58/PMC; a 1985 B10M/PMC 

artic; and a 1988 B10M/Custom 

Hyliner touring coach. 

TBSC secretary Neil Robins also 

personally owns an impressive 1980 

Volvo B58/Volgren Hess-bodied bus. 

The 1978 Volvo B58/PMC – 

nicknamed ‘Tassie Bluebird’ – has 

a history of its own and has spent 

its whole life in Tasmania, Volvo 

states. It was acquired by the society 

in 2016 and has won numerous 

awards throughout the years. 

The 1985 Volvo B10M/PMC artic 

was previously a Metropolitan 

Transport Trust/Metro Tasmania 

bus and was the oldest bus in state 

government service when donated 

to the society. 

The 1988 Volvo B10M/Custom 

Hyliner is the society’s latest addition 

and was donated by Rob/Fruncine 

Sainty from Launceston in April, 

2020, and was originally with 

Westbus NSW and Coachlink QLD. 

As for Robins’s 1980 Volvo 

B58/Volgren Hess body, it is the 

first articulated bus in Tasmania 

and also the very first Volvo bus 

Neil ever drove many years ago – 

which he has now owned for 

four years. 

FOND MEMORIES 

Robins says the society boasts an 

impressive collection of historic 

Volvo buses among others. 

With 37 years working in the bus 

industry, Robbins has lived and 

breathed buses for as long as he 

can remember, says Volvo, and that 

he recalls fond memories as a child 

being surrounded by buses in his 

local community. 

With buses being his main mode 

of transport, he got to know every 

Above, Below: 

“To see the 

vehicles in such 

great condition in 

this collection and 

the passion for 

the Volvo product 

is really inspiring 

for the team at 

Volvo Bus as we 

approach our 50- 

year milestone,” 

acting general 

manger Volvo Bus 

Australia, David 

Mead, said. 

community bus driver in his area, as 

well as the different bus makes and 

models, it explains. 

Robins’s love for buses continued 

into his youth and adulthood, 

where he landed his first job in the 

industry as a community bus driver 

at Redline Coaches, Tasmania. Here 

he spent years passionately working 

for Redline and would later be 

promoted to the role of operating 

manager. It was in 2010 that 

Robins and other Tasmanian bus 

enthusiasts created the Tasmanian 

Bus & Coach Society, in response 

to a need to establish a body for 

Tasmanian bus and transport 

enthusiasts, where he became 

the secretary, Volvo explains. 

A LIVING MUSEUM 

The society quickly became 

established and was recognised for 

conducting unique and enthralling 

enthusiast bus tours showcasing 

Tasmania’s spectacular scenery 

and unique transport vehicles and 

operators, Volvo explains. 

Robins proudly describes his 

tour as Australia’s only “living 

museum” in actively exhibiting 

across Tasmania to the public, 

covering anywhere from 30km 

to more than 600km in one tour. 

However, in order to embark on 

these great tours, the Tasmanian 

Bus & Coach Society spends many 

of its hours up keeping and 

preserving the integrity of its 

historic vehicles, it adds. 

“My future vision for the Society 

is having a fully enclosed depot 

which can operate as a Museum 

as well, opening to the public, 

said Robins. 

“I am trying to get others more 

involved, so I can step back and let 

the younger brigade take on the 

reins, but the prime goal at moment 

is to establish the premises we 

already have and to develop it more 

with extended undercover areas,” 

he said. 

Acting general manger 

Volvo Bus Australia David Mead 

said: “It is absolutely wonderful 

to see people like Neil the members 

of the Tasmanian Bus & Coach 

Society preserving the true spirit, 

passion and history of the bus 

industry.” 

16 


VOLVO REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS KEY TO 

BUSLINES ESSENTIAL SERVICES 

NSW RURAL operator Buslines 

– covering various isolated and 

scattered depots and workshops 

across the state – has streamlined 

its essential service operations 

using its majority Volvo bus fleet 

via Volvo’s Connected Services, 

the company reports. 

Volvo’s Connected Services has 

been at the forefront of these 

solutions and has been a guiding 

force in providing unparalleled 

diagnostic services remotely, with 

efficiency and accuracy, Volvo states. 

Buslines Group CEO Peter Ferris 

believes Volvo’s Connected Services 

has streamlined the essential service 

operations for its Volvo vehicles. 

“Having been a customer 

with Volvo Bus Australia for 

the past 19 years, we are 

continuously impressed with 

their technology and service 

advancements,” said Ferris. 

“For Buslines Group, Volvo’s 

Connected Services has been 

an absolute dream in giving us 

real-time diagnostics, data updates 

and seamless solutions,” he 

explained. 

According to Volvo Bus, remote 

diagnostics provides the opportunity 

to identify issues remotely in order 

to optimise operating efficiencies 

– ultimately, keeping buses on the 

road for longer. 

Buslines’ Group fleet and 

maintenance manager Aaron 

Neilson explains the benefit of 

using the technology across a large 

number of workshops, recounting 

a recent example of a warning light 

showing on a bus on a route in 

Byron Bay. 

The workshop team 

was able to log on remotely, 

check-in on the fault and make 

the call whether to bring the bus 

back to the workshop at Lismore, 

or for it to finish its run. 

It’s the flexibility and peace 

of mind, he says, that is only 

available via Volvo’s Connected 

Services offering. 

Neilson also credits the strong 

relationship with Volvo’s regional 

service manager Daniel Coleman 

as another reason he can trust his 

Volvo fleet is in the best condition 

it can be in. 

Above: Volvo Bus 

Australia has “proudly 

supported” Buslines 

over the past 19 years 

after Ray Andrich, 

Volvo Bus Australia’s 

regional sales 

manager [pictured R], 

sold the operator its 

first B7R in 2001, Volvo 

Bus confirms. 

NOW 

HIRING 

Lexi Nunn 

Talent Acquisition Specialist 

P: +61 2 9794 2600 

M: +61 439 486 719 

E: lnunn@penske.com.au 

W: penske.com.au 

With over 1000 employees across Australia 

and New Zealand, Penske is an iconic brand 

in both the business and racing worlds and a 

Fortune 500 company with a global presence. 

Operating across some of the most dynamic 

on- and off-highway markets in the country, 

Penske is a leading distributor of commercial 

vehicles from MAN Truck & Bus, Western Star 

Trucks, and Dennis Eagle, as well as diesel 

engines, gas engines, and power systems, 

from MTU, Detroit, and Allison Transmission, 

with related parts and service support. 

About the Role 

• Based in Sydney (Chipping Norton). 

• An attractive remuneration package will be 

offered to the right candidate. 

As a result of continued growth, we are 

looking for an innovative and passionate 

Regional Sales Person to further grow our 

market share. Working with the world-leading 

brand MAN this is your opportunity to deep 

dive into the dynamic transport solution 

world these buses will take you. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Sell MAN bus products and services to 

customers in-line with budgeted targets 

and stock clearance priorities. 

• Account manage large and prominent 

accounts within the region. 

• Apply technical expertise on MAN products 

to agree and record Bus or Coach 

specifications with customers. 

• Provision of customer service excellence to 

maintain and improve service levels. 

• Manage the CRM system and other 

applicable systems to ensure accurate 

details recorded. 

• Provide Sales activity reports to support 

achievement of agreed sales targets and 

customer activities. 

• Educate customers on product benefits 

and whole of life value proposition. 

• Participate in relevant industry conferences 

and seminars. 

Why choose Team Penske? 

At Penske, we know it is our people at the 

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sure you have everything you need to do a 

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• Reward and recognition programs; 

• Employee Referral Program; 

• Discounted health insurance; 

• Competitive private vehicle leasing options; 

• Employee Assistance Program; 

• Family friendly benefits including paid 

parental leave. 


17

NEWS 

NZ GO BUS SELECTS 

SIEMENS FOR E-BUS 

CHARGING 

THE WOT!?! 

GLOBAL TECH giant Siemens has won 

the rights to provide e-bus charging 

infrastructure to New Zealand operator 

Go Bus, the company has announced. 

Go Bus – as one of NZ’s largest bus 

operators – chose Siemens to power 34 

buses at Go Bus depots in Christchurch 

and Auckland - using plug-in CCS2 

charging technology – it confirms. 

The charging infrastructure 

will support 25 electric buses in 

Christchurch – the city’s first large-scale 

electric bus fleet – and nine buses in 

Auckland, which will operate on a new 

electric airport link, Siemens explains. 

The operations are scheduled to start in 

early 2021, it states. 

The Siemens Sicharge UC range 

grants bus operators optimal flexibility 

when planning electric bus depots by 

providing highly efficient infrastructure 

designed to be future proofed against 

rapid advances in battery technology. 

It also is said to enable bus operators 

to economically expand charging 

infrastructure with up to five dispensers 

plus a pantograph per charging centre. 

Jeff Connolly, CEO of Siemens 

Australia Pacific and head of Siemens’ 

Smart Infrastructure portfolio in the 

region said: “We’re proud to see our 

technology play a pivotal part in fulfilling 

New Zealand’s low-carbon future. 

“It’s critical to have a long-term 

view of transport infrastructure – one 

that centres around the effective and 

efficient use of the right technology 

and seamless movement of people,” 

said Connolly. 

UNIVERSAL FIT 

The Go Bus project demonstrates the 

advantage of Siemens’ vehicle-agnostic 

charging infrastructure, which will 

integrate with eBuses from both 

Chinese OEM Yutong and local New 

Zealand OEM Global Bus Ventures, 

to deliver future-proofed charging 

solutions, says Siemens. 

The reporting and monitoring 

function of Siemens’ Charging 

Management Software will enable Go 

Bus to centrally monitor all charging 

infrastructure across two cities and 

easily report on key metrics including 

Below: Jeff Connolly, CEO Siemens Australia 

Pacific and head of Siemens’ Smart 

Infrastructure portfolio in the region. 

electricity savings, it confirms. 

Smart management functionality 

will also enable Go Bus to schedule 

charging to take advantage to lower 

overnight tariffs while ensuring that 

individual buses have reached the 

desired state of charge by the time they 

are needed for the next day’s operations, 

it explains. 

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING 

The charging system in the Christchurch 

depot will include 12 ‘SiCharge UC 

200 Charging Centers’ with dispensers 

powering 25 parking spaces with up to 

200kW, Siemens explains. 

In Auckland, there will be five of these 

systems as well as two SiCharge UC 100 

stations with a charging power of up to 

125kW, supplying a total of nine eBuses. 

Both solutions provide plug-in CCS2 

depot charging overnight or for top-up 

charging between scheduled bus 

services during the day, it says. 

The Sicharge UC family supports 

battery voltages from 10V up to 

1,000V, Siemens says. Current eBuses 

available in the New Zealand market 

average between 600V to 700V, but 

future bus batteries are expected to 

use higher voltages to enable faster 

charging, it explains. 

Additionally, the charging system 

uses open communication standards as 

Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) to 

interact with different backend software; 

for example, for charging management, 

it states. 

PACK YOUR SANGERS 

Prefer the scenic route? Adventures Overland 

has announced that it will be launching a 

70-day bus route from UK to India in 2021, 

with stops in 18 countries. Covering 20,000km, 

passengers will be able to buy tickets for the 

full journey, or opt to travel for one of four 

legs. Adventures Overland’s founders, Sanjay 

Madan and Tushar Agarwal, currently hold the 

Guinness World Record for longest journey in 

a foreign country, covering over 17,000km in 

Australia across 28 days. Epic! 

GOOD DEEDS 

It’s been a rough time for public transport, 

but one kind stranger in Wellington has been 

helping out by leaving free face masks for 

commuters at a bus stop in the city. “It’s so nice 

and heartwarming to know that Wellingtonians 

are all doing their bit and banding together 

to help each other in this crazy time,” said a 

passerby interviewed by 1 NEWS. Meanwhile, 

over in Melbourne, local company Melbmart has 

been taking inspiration from PT in the city and 

making masks that match the upholstery of 

trams and trains. Just in case you were craving 

that commute… 

FARE-FREE FORAY 

LA’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority 

has announced that it is working on a proposal 

to make Metro buses and trains free to use. 

A plan is expected by the end of the year as 

part of the Fareless System Initiative. Metro 

CEO Phil Washington said that the initiative 

would increase use of public transport, leading 

to fewer cars on the road and improvements in 

air quality. If it comes to fruition, this would be 

the first large transit system in the world to be 

free to use. 

18 


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BIC 

MICHAEL APPS 

Getting prepared for electric 

Emerging new bus technology sees transition to new energy propulsion. 

Michael Apps 

BIC executive 

director 

PO Box 6171, 

Kingston ACT 2604 

p: 02 6247 5990 

f: 02 6273 1035 

e: admin@bic.asn.au 

I 

am going to make a call and predict that the 

widespread use of electric buses will take some 

time to achieve based on the core fact that we are 

still buying low emission diesel buses as our core 

‘transporter’ today because the fact remains – they are 

so economic and emission efficient. 

It is evident that state and territory governments are 

looking with increasing interest at electric bus fleets to 

operate their public transport and school services. Why 

wouldn’t they? All have signed up to net zero emissions 

by 2050 and all are close to or are dealing with an 

ageing bus fleet. 

With a number of electric trials underway around 

Australia, we may start to see some solid commitment 

by governments to move to fully electric fleets. NSW 

took an early lead in October last year committing to 

transition 8,000 buses to fully electric to support its 

state goals of net zero emission by 2050. 

On September 9 this year the ACT Labor government, 

ahead of the territory election in October, launched 

its plan to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. 

If ACT Labor wins the upcoming election this will see, 

in its first term, the purchase of 90 electric buses, the 

build of a zero-emission bus depot and upgrade of the 

Woden depot with electric bus infrastructure. 

The Victorian government meanwhile is currently 

committed to procuring 50 hybrid electric buses, to be 

delivered by 2022. 

I am inclined to think that bus technology may 

become fully electric (in a 30-year time frame) based 

on a transition that takes into account the Australian 

circumstance when it comes to the existing (clean) 

diesel fleet and a range of other factors (such as 

increases in the price of diesel). 

The decision to move to hybrid technology by the 

Victorian government in June last year in some way 

reflects the realities of the Australian bus marketplace 

and the challenges of introducing a fully electric bus 

fleet in the context of a low-emission Euro 6 diesel 

bus that delivers significant reliability and whole-oflife 

benefits, as well as, surprisingly to some, emission 

benefits. 

The take up of electric ‘alternative propulsion’ buses 

by states and territories requires a transitional approach 

taking into consideration a number of key issues. 

The existing Australian bus fleet has an average age 

of 12 years or less in most states and territories, with 

an expected full bus life of 20 to 25 years. A national 

maximum age of 25 years should be considered with a 

compulsory bus frame test at 20 years. 

Modern diesel is extremely competitive in a wholeof-life 

and emissions sense, especially when compared 

to the cost of new electric buses. 

Battery range, life and cost, and meeting duty cycles, 

remain massive challenges for buses and the delivery 

of services, and limits vehicle use flexibility. 

Re-charging infrastructure and availability, whether 

depot-based or on-road, and the possible impact on 

base load power when re-charging large numbers of 

vehicles at one time, along with a lack of incentives 

to encourage procurement of electric vehicles and 

investment in electric charging infrastructure are also 

challenging. 

Finally, there is the road infrastructure impact 

of increased bus gross vehicle mass as a result of 

batteries. 

It is important that any transitional approach in the 

adoption of fully electric bus technology should take 

into account: 

- the current historical investment in the diesel bus 

fleet and whole-of-life asset values; 

- that existing government fleet replacement 

programs continue based on whole-of-life cost 

efficiency; 

- acceptance that clean diesel and self-charging 

hybrid electric/diesel buses continue to provide positive 

outcomes in terms of transport and energy security. 

As electric bus technology is greatly affected by 

operating conditions and duty cycles, it is critical 

that all governments undertake local controlled and 

detailed testing to ensure that any such technology will 

provide the required outcomes. 

It is important to note that the federal government is 

in a tricky position with the adoption by all states and 

territories of zero emissions. There is no doubt that the 

political party holding the Australian government now 

or in 2050 will need to be looking closely at the part it 

will play. 

Many of you who know me and my style will also 

know that I will be ‘fully charged’ at the national level 

to engage a sensible federal government support 

scheme that aims to incentivise, by way of investment 

allowance, accelerated depreciation and up-front 

capital differential payment, and provides support for 

local manufacturing capability to manufacture hybrid 

and electric vehicles. 

Keep safe and well. Keep informed at the Industry 

Hub: ozebus.com.au/covid. 

20 


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SPONSORED CONTENT 

Run with MAX 

Meritor has designed its latest range of MAX premium brake pads to 

withstand the toughest braking conditions such as in city bus, waste and 

heavy-duty-cycle truck applications, with quality at the fore. 

This year marks the 50th year 

of Meritor’s operations in 

Australia. In 1969, Rockwell 

and Industrial Engineering 

established a purposebuilt 

drive axle manufacturing plant in 

Melbourne. Over the years, the facility 

supplied drive and steer axles to brands 

like Ford, Chrysler, Atkinson, International, 

White Motors, Leader, Volvo, Mack, 

Kenworth and Iveco. 

Despite significant changes in the 

global heavy vehicle market Meritor has 

continued to supply parts to some of the 

world’s biggest heavy vehicle names – 

including Kenworth, Volvo, Mack, Isuzu, 

Iveco, Western Star and Freightliner – first 

as part of Rockwell International, then as 

Arvin Meritor, and eventually under the 

Meritor banner. 

Today, Meritor is a global leader in 

braking systems for heavy-duty trucks, 

trailers and buses. It supplies a huge 

range of callipers, drum brakes, pads and 

brake shoes to original equipment truck 

manufacturers, both locally and globally. 

The company recently celebrated the 

production of 100 million brake shoes 

in North America and is responsible for 

almost half the aftermarket brake shoes 

supplied to that market. As a result, 

Meritor is a trusted name in the industry 

and a major player in global braking 

systems, it states. 

“Off the back of Meritor’s 110-year 

legacy, we are delighted to be celebrating 

50 years in Australia, reflecting the 

brand’s heritage and our dedication to 

the commercial vehicle transportation 

industry in this country, which has some of 

the most demanding on- and off-highway 

applications globally,” Meritor Australia 

managing director David Cole said. 

AUSTRALIAN SITES 

Meritor has two sites in Australia – an 

assembly facility in Sunshine, and an 

aftermarket parts distribution warehouse 

and brake shoe kit riveting facility based in 

Derrimut, Victoria. 

Established in 2010, the Derrimut facility 

specialises in aftermarket (Euclid, Meritor) 

and genuine (Meritor Genuine) brand 

offerings, with over 1,500 stocked items 

and 10,000 active parts on site at any time. 

Meanwhile, the 10,000 metre square 

manufacturing facility in Sunshine serves 

as a semi-finishing and assembly plant, 

which dispatches steer axles, differentials, 

axle assemblies, drive axles and brake 

components using a just-in-time lean 

process, it explains. 

Meritor Australia continues to 

make significant investments in local 

manufacturing expertise. It recently 

added capability to build and balance 

drivelines at the Sunshine facility as it looks 

to gain better in-house quality control 

and improve capabilities to support local 

customer demand and diversification in 

off-highway segments, it says. 

While Meritor Australia has traditionally 

focused on the truck and associated 

aftermarket segments, it also has an 

extensive and proven product portfolio 

globally in bus, trailer, industrial, 

off-highway, mining, agriculture, material 

handling and defence. 

Meritor Australia’s operations have 

continued to adapt to changing 

global dynamics and advancements in 

technology. The company is well-known 

for its extensive range of heavy-duty truck 

axles and remains a trusted supplier of 

tandem and tri-drive axles, steer axles, 

drivelines, S-cam brakes, brake drums, air 

disc brakes and brake pads. Meritor uses 

its global reach to both manufacture and 

source a range of quality products that are 

then tailored to suit Australian conditions. 

MERITOR MAX PADS 

The MAX premium brake pads are the 

latest addition to Meritor Australia’s 

product line-up. They represent the next 

step-up in performance and durability 

from Meritor’s popular MDP3000 standard 

series. The MAX pads are designed 

especially for applications with high brake 

usage and high brake temperatures such 

city buses, garbage trucks, coaches and 

frequent start-stop truck applications. 

22 


“Europe has had a lot of success 

introducing the MAX pad range, so we’ve 

decided to bring it to the Australian market 

because we feel there’s also opportunity 

here, particularly among high-usage waste 

truck and bus fleets,” Meritor Australia disc 

brake product manager Patrick Jose said. 

“Customers who don’t want to 

compromise on performance now 

have access to a product that can also 

significantly lower their ongoing owning 

and operating costs. Plus they also have 

the peace of mind of knowing they’re 

fitting a quality product from an original 

equipment (OE) supplier.” 

Quality is always at the forefront of 

Meritor’s philosophy. To ensure this, the 

proprietary Meritor M550 friction material 

used in the MAX pads was tested at 

both the Meritor testing and prototype 

laboratory in Cameri, Italy, as well as an 

independent laboratory. This revealed 

an outstanding friction coefficient and 

low wear levels of both pad and rotor 

when compared with both original and 

aftermarket products. In fact, the MAX pads 

so far exceeded the ECER90 requirement 

in Europe that Meritor refers to their 

performance as ‘R90 plus’. 

Other features that enable the MAX 

pads to cope with consistent hot brake 

temperatures of up to 500 degrees 

Celsius include a thick backing plate with 

wiremesh securing the pad and preventing 

Customers who don’t want to 

compromise on performance now 

have access to a product that can also 

significantly lower their ongoing owning 

and operating costs. 

separation under high shear load 

applications. Each MAX pad is also hard 

stamped with ‘MAX’ and the last three 

digits of the application number, as well a 

batch code and date for easy identification, 

complete traceability and customer’s 

peace of mind, it explains. 

The MAX pad range will be available 

in Australia through Meritor’s extensive 

network of aftermarket and OEM partners 

from September, 2020. 

FUTURE OUTLOOK 

Meritor Australia plans to further boost its 

longstanding presence in the on-highway 

and aftermarket segments through 

leading technology, innovation, reliability, 

and customer service and support. 

Meritor offers excellent customer support 

through its dedicated customer service 

and technical support representatives in 

Melbourne, and national sales coverage 

with its experienced team of field sales 

representatives servicing both OE truck 

sales and aftermarket. 

“As we look to the future we will be 

offering a wider array of differentiated 

products and solutions to customers. It 

will strengthen our capability to continue 

to invest and produce locally and will see 

expansion of our aftermarket distribution 

centre and capability, with a more 

comprehensive range of products to meet 

customer needs for every stage of vehicle 

ownership through our ‘Good, Better, Best’ 

tiered offering,” Cole said. 

“We have and will continue with a 

number of new product developments 

tailored for unique Australian applications. 

We will continue to invest in our people 

to ensure we can exceed our customer 

expectations and help them stay a step 

ahead in their businesses for the next 

50 years. It remains our commitment to 

be the recognised leader in providing 

advanced drivetrain, mobility, braking 

and aftermarket solutions for the local 

industry,” he said. 


23

SPECIAL EVENTS 

FESTIVAL OF TRUCKING 

The Brisbane Truck 

Show is no longer 

just a truck show – 

it’s a great festival 

of all things 

trucking! 

Did you get down to 

South Bank when 

you were in town for 

last year’s Brisbane 

Truck Show? The 

music and BBQ at the Plough Inn 

were amazing. Up and down Little 

Stanley Street and throughout the 

precinct, there were great deals in 

every restaurant and bar, especially 

for Truck Show attendees. 

Or did you see the amazing 

display from Volvo Group Australia 

in front of the casino in Redacliff 

Place? ‘Mack the Transporter’, the 

Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls’ pink 

trucks (looking Mickey Mouse 

even after stretching their legs 

across the Nullarbor), the Jimmy 

Barnes-inspired ‘Working Class 

Mack’ and a whole bunch of other 

new releases and favourites were 

all on show. 

What about the Daimler display in 

Queen Street Mall? How good was 

it to see school kids ooh-ing and 

aah-ing at the spectacular line-up! 

How about the Mack pop-up 

museum at Archerfield Airport? 

Did you see the UD on the 

barge on the Brisbane River with 

laser lights and fireworks? The 

Queensland Heritage Truck Show at 

Wacol? And of course, the amazing 

display of trucks and trailers in South 

Bank showcasing the capability 

and values of the Australian heavy 

vehicle industry. 

There’s much more on top of this 

coming in 2021. It’s always a great 

time to be in Brisbane, but when 

the industry gets together every 

two years, it’s not just for the truck 

show – it’s everything in and around 

it: the events, activations, product 

launches, drive days, factory 

tours, the lunches and dinners, not 

to mention Australia’s favourite truck 

stop: the BTS Plaza Terrace BBQ Bar. 

It’s not just a truck show – it’s a 

festival! 

The Brisbane Truck Show will 

return to the Brisbane Convention & 

Exhibition Centre and South Bank 

Parklands from May 13 to 15, 2021. 

BOOK YOUR 

ACCOMMODATION 

If you’ve been to the Truck Show 

more than once you’ve probably 

got a favourite hotel, and a routine 

of how you start your day before 

heading to the show. 

One thing is for sure – there are 

a lot of people looking forward to 

coming together in Brisbane when 

the show kicks off on May 13, 2021. 

There’s a bucketload of meetings, 

conferences, dealer staff events and 

so on in the days preceding the 

show. So, the message is – get your 

accommodation sorted out as soon 

as you can. 

Returning as the official 

accommodation manager for 

the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show is 

Ozaccom+. HVIA’s national events 

manager Noelene Bradley says 

Ozaccom+ was HVIA’s immediate 

choice to supply accommodation 

options for the 2021 Brisbane Truck 

Show, and have been assisting BTS 

attendees since 2009. 

It’s not just a truck show 

– it’s a festival! 

“Their experience and industry 

buying power provides exhibitors 

and visitors to the Brisbane Truck 

Show with the best available rates 

over the duration of the event,” 

she says. 

“They take the stress out 

of managing your individual, 

group or block accommodation 

requirements.” 

You can see their discounted 

rates and the best rate of the day, 

live on the Ozaccom+ website. 

Head to the Brisbane Truck Show 

website for links to the portal: 

brisbanetruckshow.com.au/ 

accommodation. 

Below: When 

the industry gets 

together every 

two years, it’s 

not just for the 

truck show – it’s 

everything in and 

around it. 

24 


INNOVATION - SUSTAINABILITY - SAFETY - KNOWLEDGE - CAREERS - COMMUNITY

IN FOCUS 

VOLGREN VETERANS 

VOLGREN BUS 

VETERANS CELEBRATED 

Two Volgren industry stalwarts are having their combined bus service 

stints of more than 80 years celebrated via the company’s unique ‘Local 

Content, Local Jobs’ story series, Volgren announced recently. 

At a time of unprecedented 

challenges for the entire 

mass transit industry – 

especially those operating in 

Victoria – Australia’s largest 

bus body builder Volgren is celebrating a 

wealth of unique employee stories from its 

past and present, it explains. 

The first set of Local Content, Local 

Jobs employee stories acknowledge 

two people with more than 80 years of 

combined service: Ross Herring worked on 

Volgren’s first bus VG001 and Peter Bromley 

worked on VG006. 

Herring joined Grenda’s Bus Service as an 

apprentice in 1974 and, by the time Volgren 

came into being in 1977, he was already 

being officially recognised for his work. He 

won the Outstanding Apprentice of the 

Year in that year, as well as an award for 

craftsmanship. 

“Volgren was managed by Fred Spiller, 

previously the workshop manager at 

Grenda. He insisted on high workmanship 

standards, which set up a great work culture 

for the business, and high standards for me – 

and not just at work,” Herring said. 

“I was their first apprentice [and was] well 

supported by the company. They allowed 

me to do a fourth year at trade school, 

plus stay for the night school and attend 

Saturday mornings at times [to complete 

further training],” he stated. 

MULTIPLE ROLES 

In 1980, Herring travelled to Switzerland to 

train with Volgren’s Swiss manufacturing 

(aluminium body structure design) partner 

Hess, staying for six weeks. He visited again 

decades later. 

Volgren moved to its current Dandenong 

facility in 1987 and, after that relocation, 

Herring worked in multiple roles, the 

company explains. 

Herring was a factory foreman, a 

production manager, a safety and 

environmental leader and a process leader. 

He regularly travelled interstate and even 

26 


overseas, at one point visiting 

Indonesia to support body kit 

assembly work. 

Today, Herring’s part of the 

manufacturing engineering 

department and says his role 

is varied covering process 

improvements, in-house training, 

interstate facility support, product 

testing, quality and safety, prototype 

reviews and much more. 

“I work and communicate within 

the majority of departments: 

sales, product engineering, 

purchasing, planning, operations, 

interstate facilities and after sales. 

[It’s important to] have a good 

relationship with your colleagues 

and show respect for what their 

own responsibilities are. We all are 

working to achieve the same result 

for Volgren – a quality outcome,” 

Herring said. 

ACCIDENTAL HERO 

Celebrating his 40th anniversary as a 

Volgren employee this year is Peter 

Bromley. In that time, he’s seen a lot 

and witnessed the company change 

dramatically, it states. 

Bromley came to Volgren 

as a first-class body maker – a 

professional vehicle manufacturer – 

and worked on VG006, the sixth bus 

ever made by Volgren. Since then 

he’s been involved with just about 

every element of a Volgren bus, 

spending the majority of his time in 

accident repairs. 

“I’m very lucky I’ve been in 

smashes [most of] my life here. 

I’ve worked on hundreds of them,” 

Bromley said. 

Why lucky? Bromley explains the 

repair shop always gets “the big jobs” 

and there’s “a great variety of work 

that comes down”, which means 

that over four decades no two days 

have ever been the same for him. 

He admits, though, that he’s seen 

his fair share of buses in bad shape 

after serious collisions. 

“Years ago I could spend 

two months on a job,” Bromley 

remembered. “Now it’s changed 

a lot.” 

He says Co-Bolt, the aluminium 

assembly system created by 

Volgren’s Swiss manufacturing 

partner Hess, has altered the way 

buses are constructed and repaired. 

There’s a lot of pride and satisfaction in what 

we do. They’re a quality product. Probably the 

best around the world. It’s pretty good to see 

how they all come out. 

Prior to its inception “everything 

was welded”. 

Bromley says he takes enormous 

pleasure in seeing the result of the 

work he and his peers do being 

regarded so highly. 

“There’s a lot of pride and 

satisfaction in what we do. They’re a 

quality product. Probably the best 

around the world. It’s pretty good to 

see how they all come out,” he said. 

NEW IDEAS 

Herring says even though he’s 

“getting on a bit” that recent 

changes have given him new 

career momentum. 

“What I’ve really enjoyed about 

Marcopolo coming in is that they’re 

looking at improving things – even 

with Optimus – and taking on new 

ideas,” he said. 

“This is really refreshing for me. 

“There have been some changes 

here for the better and I’m looking 

to the next few years.” 

Top: 

Ross Herring 

worked on 

Volgren’s first bus 

VG001. 

Above: 

Peter Bromley 

is celebrating 

his 40th year at 

Volgren this year. 

Below: 

Today, Herring 

is part of the 

manufacturing 

engineering 

department. 

Opposite, Above 

and Below: 

Volgren is 

celebrating a 

wealth of unique 

employee stories 

from its past and 

present; Ross 

Herring joined 

Grenda’s Bus 

Service as an 

apprentice in 

1974. 


27

IN FOCUS 

TRANSDEV MELBOURNE 

TRANSDEV 

MELBOURNE 

100-BUS FLEET 

UPGRADE 

COMPLETES 

The final 14 units of Victoria’s single-biggest 

order of replacement buses in 25 years have 

headed into service around metropolitan routes. 

Forming part of the state 

government’s 100 newbus 

order, the 60 Scania 

K310UB (Euro 5) and 40 

Scania K320UB (Euro 

6)-chassis vehicles – fitted in an even 

split with either Volgren or Gemilang 

bodies – are, “…transforming the 

customer experience improving 

safety, reliability and comfort for our 

customers,” the company explained. 

The new buses were built in line 

with the Victorian government’s Local 

Jobs First Policy, creating jobs in 

Ballarat and sustaining employment 

in Dandenong, Transdev Melbourne 

confirms. 

Operating from Transdev’s North 

Fitzroy depot on routes around the 

inner north and eastern suburbs 

– including Carlton, Kew, Port 

Melbourne and Altona North – the 

new buses have been replacing an 

ageing fleet since July 2019. 

According to the company, 

eventually these buses will service 

more routes across Melbourne 

and will operate where they are 

needed most. 

The Euro 5 and 6 emissions 

28 


Far Left: 

The final delivery of 

60 Scania K310UB 

(Euro 5) and 40 

Scania K320UB 

(Euro 6)-chassis 

vehicles complete 

the 100-bus delivery. 

Left: 

Melbourne’s bus fleet 

has been upgraded 

and modernised. 

Below: 

Transdev Melbourne 

managing director 

Loretta Lynch. 

Opposite below: 

Transdev Australasia 

CEO Luke Agati 

(left) and Transdev 

Australasia’s 

chief officer Bus 

Operations Ian Craig 

welcoming one of 

the final 14 new 

buses. 

standards mean they are cleaner and 

greener than the old Euro 3 emissions 

standard fleet, saving 5,346 tons of 

CO2 emissions across the first 86 

buses rolled out on to the network, 

Transdev confirms. 

This bus order has significantly improved the 

customer experience, enabling us to retire 

nearly 100 state-owned buses. 

WELL MATCHED 

Half of the buses were built 

at Volgren’s Dandenong factory, with 

the remaining 50 in the order built 

at Gemilang Australia in Ballarat, 

creating jobs for people including 

body builders, panel beaters, 

aftersales staff, auto electricians and 

painters, it confirms. 

State Minister for Public Transport 

Ben Carroll said: “These new buses 

will give passengers a more reliable, 

comfortable and safer journey when 

travelling around Melbourne. 

“We’ve modernised and upgraded 

Melbourne’s bus fleet, with the single 

biggest order of replacement buses in 

Victoria for more than two decades.” 

Transdev Melbourne managing 

director Loretta Lynch said: “This bus 

order has significantly improved the 

customer experience, enabling us to 

retire nearly 100 state-owned buses, 

which were older and less reliable than 

the industry average. 

“These new buses are well matched 

to Melbourne conditions. They are 

being deployed across our network 

where they are needed most and will 

help thousands of customers make 

safe, comfortable and reliable journeys 

every day.” 

The company operates a third of 

the metropolitan bus network 

on behalf of the Victorian state 

government, it states. 

CREATURE COMFORTS 

Passengers are enjoying upgraded and 

more reliable air conditioning during 

the summer months, fully accessible 

low floors, USB charging facilities, 

improved CCTV capability and bigger 

priority seating areas, Transdev says. 

Forty nine of the buses are fitted 

with a Thermo King HVAC (Heating, 

Ventilation and Air Conditioning) 

system, one has a new to the Australian 

market Denso unit under trial, and the 

other 50 have a Coachair CA34 HVAC 

system. 


29

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THE ENGINE OIL 

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COVERSTORY 

FOTON FUEL CELL 

Algebra should be 

learned because ‘you 

never know when 

you’ll need to use it 

in life’, many of us 

at school were told. Trigonometric 

functions and old mate Pythagoras’s 

Theorem were also classic 

mathematical mind-benders for 

the youthful academic masses, too. 

Yet, fortunately, only few of us would 

ever indeed actually use these in 

our ensuing 50-year-odd workforce 

stint, with the rest resolving heartwarmingly 

that the advice from their 

well-intentioned teachers back then 

was pure myth. 

The Periodic Table of Elements, 

though? Well, that’s another scholastic 

kettle of proverbial God’s aquatic 

creatures. 

When in full living colour that 

‘completed Tetris’-looking thing 

arguably comes in handy more times 

than most non-geeky science types 

might guess it would – and thankfully 

they are probably all the better for it. 

With origins dating to more than 

230 years ago and celebrating its 

official 150th anniversary in 2019, the 

evolving scientific ‘work in progress’ by 

a slew of disturbingly erudite people 

cleverly lists all discovered chemical 

elements thus far known to mankind. 

And it does so in a somewhat 

easy-to-follow order for lowly mere 

34 


RISE OF 

HYDROGEN 

Boasting a hydrogen fuel-cell bus ‘resume’ from as early as the 2008 

Beijing Summer Olympic Games, Foton’s ambition to bring its first 

electro-mobility buses to Australian soil is much closer than many 

would expect. With March next year the target and earlier local trials 

planned, the countdown clock to hitting Aussie roads is ticking – fast. 

WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES COURTESY FOTON AUSTRALIA 


35

COVERSTORY 


FOTON IN 

AUSTRALIA 

In August 1996, Foton set out to 

become a leading player in the 

world’s largest and most demanding 

logistics market, China, it states. 

To do this it had to be different from 

the competition and provide a worldclass 

alternative product solution for 

both logistics operators and drivers, 

it says. 

According to the company, it 

believes: “…that technology is the soul 

and DNA of the automobile”, and 

that its guiding principle became: 

‘Technology leading into the future’. 

As it explains of its truck division, it 

set about establishing strategic joint 

ventures with the ‘best of the best’ 

in the commercial vehicle industry. 

Foton’s three key strategic alliances 

have allowed access to global 

technological insights from: 

• Cummins, a global icon in the 

heavy-duty truck market and the 

world’s largest independent engine 

manufacturer; 

• Germany’s Daimler Group, the 

world’s largest manufacturer of 

premium commercial vehicles; 

• ZF, the world’s largest supplier 

of transmission and chassis 

technology. 

In terms of bus, Foton shares a 

unique relationship with Toyota and 

its fuel-cell technology. 

Foton operates R&D centres in 

China, Germany and Japan and has 

garnered the combined efforts of 

6,500 engineers from more than 40 

countries and witnessed 5,000 R&D 

patents, it explains. 

mortals based on atomic number and 

weight, electron configurations and 

various other chemical characteristics. 

Elements ‘of a feather stick together’, 

as it were. And of the lot, snaring first 

place with atomic number ‘numero 

uno’ is the lightest and most common 

element in the universe of them all – 

hydrogen! 

Since its discovery in 1671 and 

the following 90 years of tests and 

experiments to learn it ultimately 

produces water when it burns, it’s 

been used purposefully for many key 

industrial revolution technological 

advancements, such as for its light 

lift properties in iconic air-travel 

balloons first invented in 1783 – ending 

effectively with the infamous 1937 

Hindenburg disaster – and later closer 

to the ground in 1806’s de Rivaz 

internal combustion engine. 

Notably, towards the end of that 

era, the first hydrogen fuel-cell was 

invented in 1838, where - explained 

in rudimentary terms - hydrogen and 

oxygen react to produce electricity, 

with the by-product being water. 

And it is in that fundamental 

concept that modern-day buses – like 

we would have seen in use during 

the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games – cars 

and trucks are evolving as a seemingly 

environmentally cleaner alternative to 

traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT 

“Our hydrogen and electric bus will 

available in both Australia and New 

Zealand. Both the Foton Australia and 

New Zealand teams will work together 

to provide the after-sales support 

36 


We believe Australia will 

be the leading market 

of hydrogen vehicles in 

the world. 

to our local customers,” said 

general manager at Foton Bus 

Australia, Neil Wang, speaking 

exclusively to ABC magazine 

about its forthcoming EV bus 

range. So why Australasia? 

“Australia and New Zealand 

are very advanced in the 

hydrogen industry. Australia has 

more than 70 years of history 

of using hydrogen gas, so we 

believe Australia will be the 

leading market of hydrogen 

vehicles in the world,” he replied. 

“We want to help the 

Australian and New Zealand bus 

industries by providing a reliable 

product, a trusted after-sales 

service, and a ‘package solution’ 

for all their Zero Emission Bus 

(ZEB) needs. 

“Our target is to become 

Above: 

A fuel-cell coach 

being built for the 

Chinese domestic 

market shares 

design cues with 

its forthcoming 

Australasian 

counterpart. 

Right: 

Foton will be 

working with 

Australian 

universities to see 

how the uptake 

of ZEB will affect 

public transport 

infrastructure. 

Opposite, Top 

and Below: 

Foton has 

been building 

hydrogen buses 

for over a decade, 

with the first 

rolling out at 

the 2008 Beijing 

Olympic Games. 


37

COVERSTORY 


So far we have 

already sold 

more than 600 

units in China 

and some of 

the buses have 

already done 

more than 

100,000km. 

Above: 

Foton’s buses use a 

Toyota fuel cell. 

Opposite, Top: 

More than 600 units 

have already been 

sold in China. 

Opposite, Centre and 

Bottom: 

Foton says its 

experience in 

hydrogen and 

electric buses gives 

it a competitive 

advantage in this 

developing market. 

the new energy bus solution 

provider in the Australia and 

New Zealand market,” he 

explained. 

The electro-mobility products 

being referred to in the short 

term here are a 12.4-metre 

hydrogen fuel-cell city bus and 

an electric city bus. They will 

arrive in Australia before March 

2021 and be fully ADR’d, Wang 

confirms. 

“We are also going to bring 

a finance and leasing option. 

“We want to push the 

new-energy vehicle[s] in the 

public transportation industry 

so it happens quicker,” Wang 

explained. 

“We are also working with 

Australia universities to do 

research on how ZEB will 

impact our public transport 

system. Everything we do here 

is [because we] want to create 

more local jobs. Local KD 

we are focusing on bus and new 

energy vehicles .By working with 

Foton Australia we have all local 

support and networking. Foton 

also has sold many diesel buses 

in New Zealand, but this will be 

our first time to export buses 

to the Australia market,” Wang 

explained. 

So what is Foton’s competitive 

advantage in a rapidly emerging 

and increasingly competitive EV 

bus market? 

an 8.5-metre low-floor city bus, 

[assembly] is also on our plan.” 

“The key advantage for Foton 

and a 12-metre fuel-cell coach in 

2021,” he stated. 

LOCAL KNOW-HOW 

is our experience in hydrogen 

bus and electric buses,” Wang 

“Together with our industry 

While many in the commercial 

responded. 

partners [disclosed to ABC 

vehicle market will be familiar 

“Our first hydrogen order was 

magazine in confidence 

with the Foton brand in terms of 

three units for the 2008 Beijing 

given Foton Australia’s con- 

its truck product, in Australia the 

Olympic Games. 

fidentiality agreements with 

bus side will be entirely new as a 

“So far we have already 

them] we are going to provide a 

local option for operators. 

sold more than 600 units 

fuel-cell and an electric city bus; 

“Foton Australia has been 

in China and some of the 

electric charging station and 

around since 1996 selling trucks 

buses have already done 

hydrogen fuel station; and 

and vans. For Foton Bus Australia 

more than 100,000km,” he said. 

38 


“We also invest a lot in R&D. For 

example, in June 2020 Toyota Motor, 

Beijing Automotive Group – our own 

Foton Brand – and other three OEMs 

signed a joint-venture agreement for 

the establishment of United Fuel Cell 

System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (FCRD). 

“Our hydrogen bus uses a Toyota 

fuel cell, so we are providing five 

years’ full bus warranty [including 

the fuel cell] as standard and have a 

10-year warranty as option. 

“Both of our 12.4 metre 

hydrogen city bus – model number 

BJ6123FCEVCH – and electric city 

bus will be using common Australian 

city bus seating configuration. We are 

carrying 44 seats with two wheelchair 

spaces. The tare weigh of the bus 

is lower than 12.7-tonne, so we can 

carry enough passengers. And we can 

adjust it to operator requirements,” 

Wang explained. 

“Soon we will announce some trial 

projects in Australia, but we can’t 

release any information at this stage, 

unfortunately” he added, though 

Wang did concede Foton was facing 

some delay on delivering the first 

hydrogen city bus. 

“I will say March, 2021, will be the 

date for our first hydrogen city bus and 

electric city bus to arrive in Australia. 

We are building the first electric city 

bus for the Australia and New Zealand 

markets now. It will be ready for test 

by October, 2020, and sent here by the 

latest March, 2021.” 

Specs 

MAKE: Foton 

MODEL: BJ6123FCEVCH hydrogen 

fuel cell city bus 

DIMENSIONS: Length – 12,400 

x width - 2,500x height - 3,500; 

Weight – lower than 12.7-tonne 

CAPACITY: 44 (passenger seats 

with two wheelchair spaces) + 

driver 

FUEL CELL ENGINE: SinoHytec 

TS60 with Toyota FC Stac 

POWER: Maximum output of 

60kW 

MOTOR: ZF CeTrax CP A 

POWER: Maximum output 210kW 

TORQUE: Maximum 3,200Nm 

TANK: Roof-mount 5x 185L Type4 

(70 MPa) high-pressure hydrogen 

tanks 

VOLUME: Internal 925 litres 

BATTERY: CATL 100.16kW/h 

power battery 

RANGE: 400 – 450km (single 

refuel) 


39

ABC-FP-5203654-CS-397

THE BOYS 

ARE BACK! 

BIGGER AND BETTER

Saturdays 

4.30pm!

OPERATOR 

BRISBANE BUS LINES 

44 


SERVE 

WITH 

CARE 

Co-MD of family run Brisbane Bus Lines 

Lara-Jane Mitchell believes one of the 

greatest strengths of their business is the 

ability to be flexible and adapt to change. 

It’s something her father, Ian Mitchell, can 

vouch for in his 36-year run in bus game. 

WORDS ANJALI BEHL IMAGES NICK WILSON + DALE TOKELY 

Brisbane Bus Lines (BBL) was 

established by Lara-Jane’s 

grandfather, Bill Mitchell, 

with the purchase of the 

South Toowoomba Bus 

Service in 1947. He soon expanded his 

operations to run Sunday Sightseeing 

tours and for the next 37 years he 

continued to grow his footprint in 

the industry with many bus company 

acquisitions. He formally registered the 

business name in 1965. After his sudden 

demise in 1984, his sons Ian and Jeff 

became directors of the company. 

They worked in partnership for 22 

years until Jeff’s retirement in 2006. Ian 

purchased Jeff’s share of the business and 

today two of his three children - Lara-Jane 

and James Mitchell - are working with 

him. 

After a part-time stint with the family 

business, Lara-Jane went 

on to finish her graduate degree before 

re-entering the business in March 2009. 

For four years she worked across various 

business operations before becoming 

co-director in 2012. 

“Dad’s work ethic instilled in me 

the importance of dedication and 

commitment. Currently, I manage the 

business alongside my father and I’m 

thankful that he is around to pass on 

his knowledge and years of experience,” 

Lara-Jane explained. 

Meanwhile, James followed the 

family tradition of putting his passion 

for quality service delivery into his role 

as fleet presentation manager and yard 

supervisor. 

“It is important to me that our 

customers can enjoy a clean, wellpresented, 

safe and reliable vehicle 

whether they travel on one of our school, 

urban or charter vehicles,” 

he said. 

THE JOURNEY 

The business has literally seen it all – from 

a depot fire in 1967 to floods in 1974 

that inundated a fleet of its buses and 

office building; supplying vehicles to the 

Sydney Olympics and the Gold Coast 

Commonwealth Games; a large-scale fleet 

replacement programme, multiple office 

relocations to meet expansion demands - 

and now a global pandemic. 

“There is something to be said for 

Left: Ian, James and Lara-Jane Mitchell on the 

balcony of the new building. 


45

OPERATOR 


stable and consistent businesses. 

We are a people business, not just a 

bus company. Our team serves the 

community by offering safe, clean and 

reliable vehicles along with providing 

great customer service. We work along 

four values: one team, safety, service 

and communication. The Latin phrase 

Cum Cura Servire, meaning ‘serve with 

care’, is printed on the side of each of 

our vehicles,” Lara-Jane said. 

ENOGGERA FACILITY 

In order to meet the demands 

of a growing business, in 1985 

BBL moved its operations from 

Milton to Enoggera, from where 

it continues to operate today. 

“This year, we decided to continue 

with the planned construction of our 

new purpose-built admin building 

at the Enoggera depot despite the 

challenges of the Covid-19 downturn,” 

Ian explained. 

46 


COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 

For the past four years, BBL has been contributing towards Griffith University’s Annual 

Appeal to help fund scholarships for students who are excelling in their studies 

despite facing financial or personal hardships. While in the past BBL has contributed 

full scholarships, the Covid-19 downturn this year has resulted in a slightly lesser 

contribution but with the same good intentions. 

“We really wish to support students going through a tough time and because of our 

family’s rural link we are particularly understanding of the challenges faced by kids from 

rural backgrounds and we feel honoured to help them,” Lara-Jane said. 

There is something to be said for 

stable and consistent businesses. 

We are a people business, not just 

a bus company. 

The new admin facility is 

an important milestone for 

Lara-Jane, who feels it is a 

reflection of the true grit and 

determination that many family 

businesses possess. 

“Improved team facilities have 

provided a better atmosphere 

for our team,” she added. 

THE FLEET 

With a staff of 135 locals, 

BBL operates more than 85 

vehicles with an average fleet 

age of 10 years, consisting of 

a mix of full-size tour coaches, 

high-capacity articulated buses, 

and midi and minibuses to cater 

for groups of any size. 

“Choices for the replacement 

of school vehicles are influenced 

by the subsidy available under 

the Queensland government’s 

School Transport Assistance 

Scheme; however, vehicles also 

need to be suitable for local 

charter, so we generally don’t 

purchase 3x2 seaters,” Ian said. 

“Both versatility and reliability 

are key. While we would prefer 

to purchase Australian-made 

bodies as they are built to last 

30–40 years however, state 

government regulations limit the 

life of public vehicles to 25 years, 

so we feel there is little point in 

spending that extra money. As 

a result, we buy Chinese-built 

bodies and chassis. For the 

coach fleet we aim for quality 

passenger comfort and reliability 

because these vehicles may end 

up travelling anywhere in the 

country. 

“Our current school fleet is 

predominantly BCI and Bonluck. 

The coach fleet consists of 

eight Scania coaches with 

five Autobus coaches. We also 

operate 10 Rosas and seven 

Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. 

All maintenance is carried 

out in-house by our qualified 

workshop team at the Enoggera 

depot,” he stated. 

INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT 

The family has a long and proud 

association with Queensland’s 

bus industry. Jeff served on 

the executive committee of 

the Bus and Coach Association 

Queensland (now Queensland 

Bus Industry Council) from 1976 

to 2006. Lara-Jane continues 

Above: 

Co-MD of 

Brisbane Bus 

Lines Lara-Jane 

Mitchell. 

Opposite, Top: 

New facilities 

have helped 

bolster the team 

atmosphere 

during difficult 

times. 

Opposite, Below: 

Established in 

1947 by Bill 

Mitchell, BBL 

is now running 

a fleet of 85 

vehicles. 


47

OPERATOR 


regarded Covid-19 Clean 

Accreditation from QTIC. The 

considerable time and effort 

that our team has put into 

Above: 

BBL has been 

awarded Covid-19 

Clean Accreditation 

from QTIC, providing 

the highest levels 

of safety for the 

company’s staff and 

passengers. 

to represent BBL on the QBIC 

management committee in 

addition to her position as 

chairperson of the Long Distance 

Tour and Charter Committee. 

“Three generations on, 

staying connected and giving 

decisions,” she said. 

COVID-19 IMPACT 

“There is no doubt our business 

has endured significant financial 

impact due to Covid-19; however, 

we have made a conscious effort 

ensuring that our pandemic 

planning is at the highest 

possible level of compliance 

gives us a level of certainty 

that we are protecting our 

staff and community as much 

as possible.” 

Opposite, Above 

and Below: 

BBL’s current school 

fleet is predominantly 

BCI and Bonluck, 

whilst the coach fleet 

is made up of Scania 

and Autobus coaches. 

The fleet is completed 

with several Rosas 

and Mercedes-Benz 

Sprinters. 

back to the wider bus industry 

continues to be very important 

to us. Connecting, learning and 

sharing with other operators 

and businesses through 

QBIC, Queensland Tourism 

Industry Council (QTIC) and the 

Family Business Association 

has enabled me to develop 

my knowledge and skills as 

to put our time and energy 

into improving systems and 

processes that had been on the 

to-do list. Moving into our new 

premises over this period is one 

of those tasks. The extra time in 

our day has allowed us to settle 

into our new workspace in a 

pretty orderly manner instead of 

an almighty rush between client 

The company has been able 

to retain over 98 per cent of the 

team thanks to government 

support and revenue from 

ongoing contracted school 

services, rail replacement 

services and longstanding client 

contracts, it explains. While there 

was one redundancy as a direct 

result of the financial impact on 

a manager and keeps me 

and operational demands,” 

charter services, a small number 

up-to-date with industry and 

Lara-Jane explained. 

of its team members decided 

business news and trends, which 

“We are proud to have been 

to retire or bring forward their 

I can draw on to make informed 

recently awarded the highly 

retirement. 

48 


I am very proud of 

the team for their 

willingness to be 

flexible in their work 

in order to keep 

everybody safe. 

“Keeping in touch with our team 

through company updates has been 

a high priority for me during this 

difficult time,” Lara-Jane said. 

“I am very proud of the team for 

their willingness to be flexible in their 

work in order to keep everybody as 

safe as possible.” 

THE OUTLOOK 

Ian, who is pleased with the 

company’s growth and future 

prospects, says community is at the 

heart of the business. 

“As my brother Jeff used to say, 

‘as long as we can continue to please 

the transport department, our 

passengers and our team, we will 

continue to expand’. Whether we 

operate 20 buses or 200 buses we 

will carry this philosophy with us into 

the next generation. The future for 

BBL is very exciting and I’m extremely 

proud to work beside my family as we 

strategically position the company for 

future growth,” he added. 


49

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2006 MERCEDES 

BENZ 0500 

6sp manual, 12.5m Coach 

Design body, 48 lap sash 

seat belted recliners, 2 door, 

rear toilet, 5 x LCD monitors, 

tachograph, many extras, 

one owner, travelled approx. 

960,000klm 

$85,000+GST 

2015 IVECO 

EURORIDER 

Cursor 330hp, ZF automatic inc 

retarder, Irizar 13.2m body, 52 

recliners in leather, toilet, A/C, 

underfloor bins, travelled only 

102,000klm 

Reduced to 

$215,000+GST 

2011 SCANIA K440EB 

Opticruise inc retarder, Coach 

Concepts 13.5m body,50 lap 

sash seat belted seats in leather, 

2 door, mid toilet, Thermo King 

A/C, full service history, travelled 

approx. 750,000klm 

$215,000+GST 

2007 DENNING 

PHOENIX 6X2 12.5M 

Cat C13 430hp, Allison auto 

inc retarder, 44 lap sash seat 

belted leather reclining seats, 

rear toilet, Thermo King A/C, 

large underfloor bins, Travelled 

approx. 560,000klm many 

extras, very clean 

$200,000+GST 

2016 BCI 

CLASSMASTER 

Cummins ISB300hp, Allison 

automatic inc retarder, 57 lap sash 

seat belted seats, A/C, underfloor 

bins, DVD, just repainted all 

over white, travelled approx. 

302,0000klm very clean 

Reduced to 

$145,000+GST 

2010 BCI 

“CLASSMASTER 43” 

Cummins ISB280hp, Allison auto inc 

retarder, 43 metro seats in cloth, 

Tracs heat cool A/C, underfloor 

bins, travelled approx 350,000klm, 

school lights, complete chassis 

service, very clean 

$69,000+GST 

2010 BCI “EXPLORER” 

CUMMINS ISM410HP 

Allison auto inc retarder, 58 

lap sash seat belted leather 

recliners, rear toilet, Tracs A/C, 

large underfloor bins, very clean, 

complete service history 

$115,000+GST 

ABC-HH2-5129255-TS-397 

2 X 2015 IVECO 

EURORIDER 

Cursor 330hp,ZF automatic 

inc retarder, Marcopolo 

12.5m body,57 lap sash seat 

belted seats,A/C,underfloor 

bins,travelled 245,000klm 

Reduced to 

$175,000+GST each 

2 X 2015 SCANIA 

K440EB 

Opticuise,13.5M Coach 

Concepts body, 50 Styleride 

lap sash leather recliners, 

tachograph, 2 door, mid toilet, 

many extras, one fitted with a 

Wheelchair lift, travelled approx. 

400 to 440,000klm 

from $380,000+GST each 

2010 BCI PROMA 

DELUXE 

Cummins isb185hp, Allison 

automatic inc retarder, 33 lap 

sash seat belted recliners, 

heat cool A/C, underfloor bins, 

school lights, travelled approx. 

272,000klm 

Reduced to 

$59,000+GST 

2 X 2013 SCANIA 

K440 

Opticruise inc retarder, Coach 

Concepts 14.5m body, 58 lap sash 

seat belted seats in leather, guide 

seat, Thermo King A/C, 2 door, mid 

toilet, Hanover sign,tachograph,full 

service history, travelled approx. 

780,000klm 

Reduced to 

$220,000+GST each 

2017 SCANIA K310IB 

auto inc retarder, Irizar I6 12.5m 

body,57 lap sash seat belted seats 

in leather, A/C, underfloor bins,DVD, 

travelled approx. 270,000klm 

very clean 

$240,000+GST 

2014 MERCEDES 

BENZ 0500R 

automatic,12.5m Irizar Century 

body, 65 (3 for 2) fixed coach 

seats including lap sash seat 

belts, A/C, underfloor bins, 8 

camera surveillance, travelled 

only 113,000klm 

$175,000+GST 

4 X 2011/12 HIGER 

“T SERIES” 

Cummins ISB300, automatic, 

57 lap sash seat belted seats, 

A/C, underfloor bins, travelled 

approx. 180-220,000klm 

$85,000+GST each 

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52 ABC SEPTEMBER 2020 busnews.com.au

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2000 VOLVO B7R 

50 Seatbelts, Toilet, TV/DVD, Manual 

2000 MERCEDES 0405 

Volgren body, Lowfloor, 2-door, AC 

1999 VOLVO B7 

Auto Bus Body, Auto, 

53 Seatbelt seats, 

Air Conditioned. 

2015 IVECO MARCO POLO 

57 Seatbelts, Automatic, Air 

Conditioned. 

$60,000 + GST 

$32,000 + GST 

$60,000 + GST 

$175,000 + GST 

2013 HIGER 

T-Series, 12m, A/C, 

57 Seatbelts 

$98,000 + GST 

2002 IVECO 

Custom CB50 body, 61 seats, Manual, 

Thermoking. 480,000km 

$46,000 + GST 

2006 HINO RK260 

P&D body, 57 seats, Manual. 

348,000 KMS 

$56,000 + GST 

2010 MITSUBISHI 

ROSA DELUXE 

Manual, 390,000km 

$28,000 + GST 

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Mercedes Benz engine with 

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1850N/m torque 

Optimised ZF automatic 

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11m 3 capacity luggage 

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54 

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transform single vehicles to full fleets, with seating solutions to rest room facilities or air conditioning 

we have the ability to meet your requirements. 

Seating Arrangements: Luxury coach seating to high capacity school bus solutions. 

Wheel Chair Accessibility: Lift & ramp installations, wheel chair restraint systems. 

Rest Room Facilities: Basic toilet facilities to luxury wash rooms. 

Vehicle Accessories: Bull bars, bumper bar and tow bars. 

Electrical & Audio Visual: Safety systems, surveillance, mining & Audio visual upgrades. 

P: (07) 3344 4544 

E: info@coachworks.com.au 

W: www.coachworks.com.au 

ABC-QH-5164872-CS-397 

FLEET 585 

MAN A80, 16.220, 2008, Designline Body, Low 

Floor, Denso LD8i Air Conditioning, ZF 6HP502C 

Automatic, 42 seated 27 Standees. 

20K SALE PRICE 

FLEET 574 

MAN A66, 15.220, 2007, Custom Coaches CB 30 

Body, Low Floor, Denso LD8 Air Conditioning, Voith 

854.5 Automatic Gearbox, 42 seated 27 Standees. 

20K SALE PRICE 

Keith McArtney - Head of Fleet and Maintenance M: +61 428 221 427 E: keith.mcartney@transdev.com.au 

busnews.com.au SEPTEMBER 2020 ABC 55

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DELIVERIES AUGUST 2020 

August deliveries experience 

Covid contraction 

The Australian bus and coach market feels the pandemic pressure, 

exclusive ABC data reveals. 

While remaining largely resilient for the 

first half of the year in the face of the 

Covid-19 pandemic, market contractions 

have now flowed on to the Australian 

bus and coach market, with deliveries 

slipping to 70 in August. 

Despite representing the lowest monthly tally for the year 

- for some perspective - it steers clear of some recent historic 

lows, including 53 deliveries in September 2017. 

For the chassis sector, Volvo remained top, but its 20 

deliveries were half of July’s, marking a yearly low. Similarly, 

second-placed Scania had its second consecutive month in the 

teens - short of June’s best of 46. One of the positives in August 

was it being MAN’s best month this year, with a 

major order from Surfside Buslines. BCI also returned 

with seven deliveries after none in July. 

Volgren led the way for the body builders, with its 

20 deliveries more than half its best, but also slightly 

better than some other months this year. Australian 

Bus Corporation’s three brands of Precision Buses 

(7), Bustech (5), and Elphinstone (3) were evenly spread for a 

combined tally of 15. Meanwhile, BCI also rebounded to 14 

after only two in July. 

Thermo King led the air-conditioning sector, but it too 

had its lowest tally for the year (30), short of its previous low 

of 42. MCC had a better month with 11 recorded deliveries, 

compared to one last month. 

For the second time this year, WA topped the state charts, 

with 29 per cent of the deliveries, outranking its eastern 

seaboard compatriots NSW (26 per cent), Victoria (20 per cent) 

and Queensland (16 per cent). 

Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery 

information for August. Please note all data is as supplied from 

manufacturers, with their involvement at their discretion. 

For the second time this year, WA 

topped the state charts, with 29 per 

cent of the deliveries. 

58 


Volgren 21 

ABC* 15 

BCI 14 

Irizar 6 

Yutong 6 

Scania Higer 3 

P&D Coachworks 2 

Coach Concepts 1 

Coach Design 1 

TOST 1 

SALES BY BODY 

Volgren led the way for the body builders, with its 

20 deliveries more than half its best but also slightly 

better than some other months this year. Australian 

Bus Corporation’s three brands of Precision Buses 

(7), Bustech (5), and Elphinstone (3) were evenly 

spread for a combined tally of 15. Meanwhile, BCI 

also rebounded to 14 after only two in July. 

4% 

SA 

16% 

20% 

VIC 

4% 1% 

NT TAS 

Percentage by 

REGION 

29% 

WA 

% 

SALES BY 

AIR-CONDITIONER 

Thermo King led the air-conditioning sector, but it too had 

its lowest tally for the year (30), short of its previous low of 

42. MCC had a better month with 11 recorded deliveries, 

compared to one last month. 

Thermo King 30 

MCC 11 

Hispacold 8 

Cling-Yutong 6 

Coachair 4 

Konvekta 3 

Spheros 3 

Denso 2 

Valeo 2 

KRS 1 

QLD 

26% 

NSW 

VOLVO 20 

SCANIA 14 

MERCEDES-BENZ 12 

BCI 7 

MAN 6 

Sales by chassis 

For the chassis sector, Volvo remained top, but its 20 deliveries were half of last month’s, marking a yearly 

low. Similarly, second-placed Scania had its second consecutive month in the teens, short of June’s best 

of 46. One of the positives in August was it being MAN’s best month this year, due to a major order from 

Surfside Buslines. BCI also returned with seven deliveries after none in July. 

YUTONG 6 

ABC* 3 

HINO 2 


59

DELIVERIES AUGUST 2020 

MANUFACTURER, 

OPERATOR & LOCATION 

UNITS 

CHASSIS 

(Model) 

BODY 

BUILDER 

HP* 

ENGINES 

Rear / Front 

Emissions 

standard 

AUST BUS CORP* MetroTas TAS 1 Bustech XDI Elphinstone 300 R Euro 6 

(*Bustech/Precision/Elphinstone) MetroTas TAS 1 Bustech XDI Elphinstone 300 R Euro 6 

MetroTas TAS 1 Bustech XDI Elphinstone 300 R Euro 6 

BCI Go West WA 5 Fleetmaster BCI 320 R Euro 5 

Crown Coaches VIC 2 Cruiser 9 BCI 290 R Euro 6 

HINO N/A VIC 1 921 P&D Coachworks 205 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 RN8J P&D Coachworks 286 R Euro 5 

MAN Surfside Buslines QLD 4 RC2 19.320 LE E5 Bustech 320 R Euro 5 

Surfside Buslines NSW 2 RC2 19.320 LE E5 Volgren 320 R Euro 5 

MERCEDES-BENZ N/A VIC 1 OC500RF E5 1936 BCI 360 R Euro 5 

N/A WA 1 OC500RF E5 1936 BCI 360 R Euro 5 






N/A NT 1 O500R Volgren 300 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 OC500LE E6 Volgren 360 R Euro 6 




SCANIA Chris Wilkinson VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Scania Higer A30 310 R Euro 5 

Christians Bus Co VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Coach Design 310 R Euro 5 

Dept. of Public Transport Infrastructure SA 2 K 320 UB4X2 Precision Buses 320 R Euro 6 

Sandfer VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Scania Higer A30 310 R Euro 5 

Symons Bus & Coach Service Narooma NSW 1 K 360 IB4X2 Scania Higer Touring 360 R Euro 6 

Transit Systems West - Leichhardt NSW 5 K 320 UB4X2 Precision Buses 320 R Euro 6 

Wilkinsons Bus & Coach NSW 1 K 310 IB4X2 Irizar 310 R Euro 5 

Wimmera Roadways VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Coach Concepts 310 R Euro 5 

Wimmera Roadways VIC 1 K 310 UB4X2 Bustech 310 R Euro 5 

VOLVO Irizar Asia Pacific QLD 4 B8R Irizar 330 R Euro 5 

Irizar Asia Pacific SA 1 B8R Irizar 330 R Euro 5 

CDC VIC 2 B8RLE Volgren 330 R Euro 5 

CDC VIC 2 B5LH Volgren 240 R Euro 6 

CDC NSW 1 B7RLE Volgren 290 R Euro 5 

Brisbane City Council QLD 3 B8RLE Art Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

Perth Transport Authorities WA 6 B8RLE Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

Starmajor WA 1 B8R TOST 330 R Euro 5 

YUTONG N/A WA 1 D12 Yutong 360 R Euro 5 

N/A WA 1 D12 Yutong 360 R Euro 5 

N/A VIC 1 D7 Yutong 140 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 T12 Yutong 350 R Euro 5 



60 

ABC September 2020 busnews.com.au 

TOTAL DELIVERIES 70

TRANSMISSION 

A: Automatic 

M: Manual 

AS: Auto-Shift 

O: Opticruise 

TRANS 

MAKE 

AXLES 

BODY 

LENGTH 

(metres) 

AIR-CON 

(Brand) 

NUMBER OF SEATS 

Fixed 

Coach 

Recliners 

Metro 

Long 

Distance 

APPLICATION 

Charter 

City or 

Route 

School 

SEATING 

SEAT 

BELTS 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 52 – – – – – – Styleride N 



A ZF 2 12.30 MCC – 55 – – X – – Sege Y 

A ZF 2 9.6 Denso 43 – – – X – – Sege Y 

A Aisin 2 7.99 Thermo King 34 – – – – – X Styleride Y 

A ZF 2 12 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 50 – – – – X – McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 50 – – – – X – McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 13.5M KRS – 48 – – – X – Sege N 

A ZF 2 13.5M MCC – 53 – – X – – Sege Y 






A ZF 2 12.5M Coachair 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 13.5M Thermo King – – 45 – – X – McConnell N 




A ZF 2 12.3 Konvekta 49 – – – – – – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12.3 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 12.5 Hispacold – – 42 – – X – Styleride N 



A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King – – 45 – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12 Hispacold 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King 53 – – – – – X Styleride Y 

A ZF 2 12.3 Thermo King – – 48 – – X – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Hispacold X – – – X – – Sege Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Hispacold X – – – X – – Sege Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Coachair – – 41 – – X – McConnell N 

AS Volvo 2 10-12.9 Valeo – – 40 – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Coachair 48 – – – – X – McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Spheros – – X – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King – – 41 – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A Allison 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 57 – – – – – X Yutong Y 

A Allison 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 57 – – – – – X Yutong Y 

A Allison 2 8 Cling-Yutong 27 – – – – – X Yutong Y 

A ZF 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 53 – – – – – X Yutong Y 



*Australian Bus Corporation (ABC) comprises Bustech (16), Precision Buses (10) and Elphinstone (2). Volgren’s count includes two units from its partnership with Supportrans. 


61

DRIVEN 

MAN BLK PRESIDENT 

THE FIRST 

PRESIDENT 

MAN partnered with Bus and Coach Sales Australasia (BCSA/BLK) mid- 

2019 to give the market a quality yet affordable school/charter vehicle to 

compete with other OEMs. The MAN Bonluck President is the very first of its 

kind and is aimed specifically at the school bus and charter market. 

WORDS AND IMAGES PAUL ALDRIDGE 

62 

ABC September busnews.com.au

Regional sales manager at 

MAN Mark Nichols explained 

to ABC magazine on our 

test drive that although the 

MAN-BLK President is aimed 

specifically at the school bus market, “...it 

certainly doesn’t look like a bread box”. 

“It’s a very nice vehicle to drive,” he 

aded. “I’ve driven it to Melbourne a 

couple of times and it’s exactly the 

same as driving a coach.” 

We were speaking with him to find out 

more about the collaboration between 

MAN Bus and Bonluck (BLK), which 

Nichols described as being very close. 

“We’re all from the bus industry; I’ve 

known Rodd Hood and Athol McKinnon 

from BLK for quite a number of years,” 

he commented. 

“They approached us, and we were 

looking around at the same time, so I 

think it was meant to be. The bonus is 

we all get on very well, and we all work 

really well together. We’re based in Wacol 

and with these guys being based in 

Yatala, we’re only half an hour away 

from each other.” 

QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY 

The relationship is always a big factor 

in successful collaborations, but there 

needs to be reasons it actually ‘works’ for 

the end product to be a success in the 

marketplace. Asked about this, Nichols 

says that this collaboration, “...is a success 

because quality is the main component – 

a quality chassis with a quality body. This 

will be one really long-lasting vehicle. 

“I’m very happy with the interior 

fit-out and the noise level; MAN pride 

themselves on that whisper-quiet chassis 

and it works so well with this body. I think 

it’s come together great and it just works, 

I’m sure it will be very well received.” 

The President we are driving today 

was built as a demonstration model, 

but has already been sold for a school 

bus application, MAN confirms. 

“This is our first President, the MAN 

IC19.320 Euro 5 horizontal turbocharged 

inline six-cylinder (RR8) with a 12.36m 


63

DRIVEN 


vehicle, which Nichols puts down to 

having worked closely with Lutz, MAN’s 

Germany engineer, and the team from 

Bonluck. 

Asked if the vehicle ABC is test driving 

is the standard format President, Nichols 

said: “This is the standard format you 

can get, 

but if you order you certainly have choices. 

There are options: you can increase the 

horsepower of the chassis, there are body 

options, aircon options and of course 

there are the seating options.” 

The Bock air conditioning compressor is 

engine mounted rather than body mounted, 

which removes a lot of noise and vibration. 

bus body,” Nichols explained. 

“It has a 57 seated-passenger capacity, 

but can also be built on the MAN two-axle 

chassis [13.2m], with 61 fixed adult seats. 

We’ve already built two massive 65-seat 

capacity two-axle options for Coast and 

Country Buses. Those two big capacity 

ones are running around very successfully 

for them.” 

Sixty-five seats is a huge capacity 

STRONG, SILENT TYPE 

“This chassis is a very economical chassis, 

whisper-quiet, with the clean side cooling 

package, and it does 320hp [239kW] with 

1,600Nm of torque. It just works really 

well,” Nichols said. 

Every MAN chassis we’ve ever driven, we 

have to agree, have been quiet. They have 

a certain feel to them, so we were looking 

forward to the drive to see if the same 

MAN feel came through. 

Nichols also explains that the Bock 

air conditioning compressor is engine 

mounted rather than body mounted, 

which removes a lot of noise and vibration 

through the body, making the ride a lot 

quieter. 

“It’s mounted on the side of the engine 

just like in a car and it actually moves with 

the engine,” he said. 

“A much quieter option and just 

another reason this chassis is super quiet,” 

he said. 

THE TEST DRIVE 

Some Queensland sunshine greeted us as 

we drove from the BCSA (Bus and Coach 

Sales Australasia/Bonluck) headquarters 

in Yatala and did some suburban driving 

to give the President 

a run through familiar territory. After 

that we headed for the hills of Wolffdene 

to give it a bit of a more regional driving 

workout. 

This was the first time driving the 

new platform of the BCSA and MAN 

collaboration. Our last drive of a President 

was April, 2017: a Bonluck President 2 

powered by a Cummins engine with an 

Allison transmission. Collaborations give 

our industry the best of what’s on offer 

worldwide and it’s great to see companies 

like these two major players working 

together to come up with the goods. 

The President has ADR68 Sege seats 

fitted - a popular choice amongst luxury 

coach builders and usually in leather. 

64 


However, these are cloth and the 

polyester-wool mix fabric feels 

really strong and durable, MAN 

says that this vehicle is built to last 

and you can really feel that in the 

quality of the fit-out. 

The chequed fabric seats 

combined with the wooden-look 

vinyl flooring and black accents 

are an appealing combination. 

Underneath, there’s 10 square 

metres of storage capacity with 

three doors on either side, so 

internally and externally the 

passengers’ needs are well 

appointed for. 

As soon as you sit behind the 

wheel of the President you feel 

at home. It might be because 

it’s a MAN chassis, which are 

very predictable, so you can trust 

in the quality. 

There are no complaints with 

regards to visibility out the front 

and mirror vision is good in all 

areas, it seems. 

There is some pretty impressive 

soundproofing; jumping onto the 

highway all we could hear is a 

slight noise from the aircon system 

and a little tyre noise from the 

road, which is to be expected from 

brand new tyres. Everything else is 

remarkably quiet. 

The chassis comes standard 

with an electronic braking system 

(EBS), electronic stability program 

(ESP) and electronically controlled 

air suspension (ECAS), but can 

also be ordered with a ‘Driver 

Assistance Package’ that has cruise 

control/adaptive cruise control 

(ACC), emergency braking assist 

(EBA), lane guard system (LGS) and 

automatic wipers and headlights. 

The ECAS is good feature 

for school bus applications as 

it electronically controls the 

suspension to stabilise despite 

loading conditions, making it 

perfect for country roads and a 

changing load like you get with 

school children. 

Stability plays a huge part in 

both passenger and driver comfort. 

MAN says this is part of its ‘comfort 

suspension’ and the drive today 

was a firm but very comfortable 

one and easy on the driver. 

With 1,600Nm of torque the bus 

Top: 

Plenty of storage 

space, with three 

access doors on each 

side of the coach. 

Left: 

Sege seats in polyesterwool 

mix that’s built 

to last. 

Opposite, Top: The 

whisper-quiet chassis 

does 239kW (320hp) 

with 1,600Nm. 

Opposite, Below: 

The driving experience 

is smooth and quiet, 

with good window 

tinting to assist driving 

in Australian summers. 


65

DRIVEN 


Specs 

MODEL: MAN-BLK President 

CHASSIS: MAN IC19.320 E5 

(RR8) 

LENGTH: 12.36m 

ENGINE OUTPUT: MAN 

D2066 Euro 5. Power - 235kW 

(320hp)@1,900 RPM 

TRANSMISSION: ZF 6AP 2000B 

Ecolife 

BODY: Bonluck President 

SEATS: Sege - two-axle max 57 

seats; three-axle max 65 seats 

STORAGE: 9-10.0 cubic mt 

AIRCON: Spheros CC-355 or 

Thermo King KRS 

STEERING: ZF Servocom 8098 

SAFETY SYSTEMS: EBS, ESP, 

ECAS, cruise control/ACC, EBA, 

LGS, automatic wipers and 

headlights 

Top: 

A stand-out was 

just how quiet the 

ride was inside. 

Below: 

Euro 5 horizontal 

turbocharged 

inline six-cylinder. 

We just kept coming back to the sound 

quality – it really is so quiet inside. 

punches along quickly. There’s 

definitely no waiting for the 

power to kick in, it’s pretty instant. 

Sometimes with Euro 5 you can 

expect things to be a little slower 

off the mark, but the President 

certainly isn’t. 

In our drive we were able to 

get in a good mix of urban roads, 

highway driving and some country 

hillside driving, so we got a good 

feel for the vehicle over different 

road conditions. In all-flat driving 

you can’t get a true feel for power 

and torque. 

As a driver, it’s a pretty nice 

feeling sitting up the front, 

We just kept coming back to the 

sound quality – it really is so 

quiet inside. We couldn’t even 

hear the cars passing. Without 

the mirrors, we wouldn’t have 

even known a car was approaching 

– which is really impressive and this 

certainly will make longer 

journeys more comfortable for 

the driver, as well as it being 

an all-round positive, more 

comfortable experience for 

passengers as well. 

The window tinting comes as 

standard from BLK and it’s really 

dark, which is a welcome addition 

for the Australian summer and 

passenger comfort, we say. 

The retarder system was also 

a stand-out and we gave the hill 

descent feature a go – just double 

tap the brake and it will not go 

above your current speed. It’s not 

a cruise control, but it stops you 

from gaining momentum downhill, 

which is a handy feature, especially 

for regional areas. 

Drivers today are spoilt with the 

developments in bus and coach 

technology, they are so car-like and 

comfortable. Today’s drive of the 

MAN President was all we expected 

it would be. 

Us older or experienced 

drivers have probably all had 

stints on buses that were actually 

physically tiring to drive, so having 

a bus this smooth and easy to 

drive plays a big part in reducing 

driver fatigue and improving the 

overall safety and longevity of 

driver health. 

It’s very easy to be impressed by 

the features offered on this new 

MAN-BLK President and truly 

appreciate just how far our industry 

has come. 

66 


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ABC #397

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