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NEWS uses all those new technologies that we’ve been speaking about – hydrogen, electric – it’s going to be a mix of different technologies, but it’s got to work in Brisbane conditions,” he said. “Diesel is going to need to be in the mix in our public transport fleet for the foreseeable future.” BRISBANE FADES OUT NATURAL-GAS BUSES CLEAN DIESEL-technology buses will slowly replace Brisbane City Council’s aging ‘eco-friendly’ natural-gas run fleet, with reported explosions resulting in gas tanks only being half filled for safety, affecting efficiency, an ABC Radio Brisbane broadcast highlights recently. As the basis for a printed story on www.abc.net.au called ‘Brisbane City Council swaps “exploding” gas-powered buses for diesel following gas cylinder explosions’, it states that the, “…new diesel buses are a stopgap, with Brisbane City Council’s long-term plans to use a mix of greener technologies, like electricity and hydrogen, still years off.” It added: “Explosions in 2008 and 2012 led to policies that restricted gas buses operating with half-filled tanks, which meant they needed to be refuelled more often. “The council is withdrawing the gas buses, which make up about a third of the fleet, and they will be off the roads by 2027,” it stated. NO PROGRESS As the report states, Brisbane public and active transport chair Councillor Ryan Murphy says natural gas “at its heart” was cleaner than diesel, but the former had not progressed in two decades. As a result, the Euro 6 standard diesels – the council’s bus of choice – had “leapfrogged” gas buses, with lower particulate and nitrous oxide emissions, it says. “By 2023 we want to have a procurement strategy in place that uses all those new technologies that we’ve been speaking about – hydrogen, electric – it’s going to be a mix of different technologies, but it’s got to work in Brisbane conditions,” Councillor Murphy said. He explains that the council wanted electric and hydrogen-powered buses, but needed to make sure they would work in Brisbane’s climate and conditions, and at scale, the national-broadcaster ABC news report states. Councillor Murphy pointed to the first Brisbane Metro bus that would arrive mid next year: an electric bus that could carry 150 passengers, reach 90 kilometres per hour, and fully charge in 4–6 minutes, the reports states. The United Kingdom and France want diesel banned by 2040, and India wants it off roads by 2030, but Counsellor Murphy says those countries are taking “some pretty big bets” on their future public transport fleets and Brisbane would be more conservative, it quotes. “By 2023 we want to have a procurement strategy in place that Above and Below: As the report states, Brisbane public andactive transport chair Councillor Ryan Murphy says natural gas “at its heart” was cleaner than diesel, but the former had not progressed in two decades. THE EXPLOSIONS Brisbane opposition leader Councillor Jared Cassidy (ALP) says natural gas buses – introduced under Labor Lord Mayor Jim Soorley – had carried millions of passengers for two decades. “At the time they were cutting-edge technology,” he said, though “conceded it was disappointing that two gas cylinders had exploded in the fleet”, the report states. Councillor Cassidy supported the council’s plan to import 60 electric buses for Brisbane Metro, but insisted it needed to be more ambitious and power its entire 1,200-strong fleet with electric or hydrogen, it explains. Councillor Cassidy says bus manufacturer Volgren, based in Brisbane, had the capability with its international counterparts to develop and build electric buses for the city’s non-Metro routes, the report confirms. “We’ve got a fleet of 1,200 buses,” he said. “We’d be one of the very few of the bus operators in Australia who could lead the way on introducing electric buses on a mass scale. Councillor Murphy says replacing the city’s diesel buses “overnight” would be financially irresponsible and leave working buses with “nothing to do”. 12 ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au
ADL DELIVERS E-BUSES TO AUCKLAND AUCKLAND TRANSPORT (AT) and ferry operator Fullers360 now has six new electric buses for use on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, thanks to a delivery from Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), which also has renewed its partnership with New Zealand manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders. According to ADL – owned by North America’s New Flyer Industries – it will supply an additional two electric buses to Fullers360 subsidiary Waiheke Bus Company before Christmas, allowing half of all buses on the island to be converted to zero-emission operation. At the launch event, attended by the Mayor of Auckland and the British Consul General in Auckland, ADL announced its renewed partnership with local manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders, it adds. This will now include the assembly of electric buses, which for the New Zealand market had until now taken place overseas, it confirms. In addition to two-axle models like those for Waiheke Island, the partners will produce 12.6m-long, three-axle electric buses, which ADL has designed for the specific requirements of bus operation in New Zealand by carrying 78 passengers without the requirement of an overweight permit, a first for New Zealand, it states. As the country prepares to fully transition its bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2035, their local assembly will support up to 100 jobs at Kiwi Bus Builders, ADL explains. ADL’s general manager for New Zealand Tony Moore said: “We have been a major supplier to New Zealand for almost ten years and during this time have already supplied 500 vehicles with the help of our friends at Kiwi Bus Builders. As Auckland Transport and other transport authorities prepare to move to a zero-emission fleet, we are renewing this partnership in a clear sign of our support for New Zealand jobs and our commitment to this market.” Kiwi Bus Builders managing director Richard Drummond said: “The Enviro200 range of electric buses are not only designed for our local requirements here in New Zealand, but are also built in this country. With investment in updated build techniques, we will be able to scale up our production to meet demand from Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand as the fleet transformation gets under way ahead of the 2035 zero-emissions target.” busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC 13
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