ABC #399

IN FOCUS
TRANSDEV ELECTRIC BUS
250 solar panels are capturing up to
159,000kWh of power per year.
‘SUSTAINABLY POWERED’
E-BUS FOR SEQ
Transdev Queensland will launch a 100 per cent ‘sustainably powered’
full-sized electric bus for South East Queensland early 2021, charged at
a fully solar-powered bus depot in Brisbane, the company reports.
Touted as a first for Australia,
global e-mobility leader
Transdev will operate the new
39-seat e-bus on TransLink
routes throughout Brisbane
and the Redlands from early 2021 under a
two-year partnership with the Queensland
state government, it confirms.
Transdev CEO Luke Agati says the
bus would be 100 per cent powered by
‘harvested’ sustainable solar energy, with
the company installing a new Green
Mobility Megawall, comprising 10 Tesla
Power Walls and solar network at its
Capalaba depot.
“Averaging more than 280 days of
sunshine per year, Queensland well and
truly lives up to its reputation as the
Sunshine State, and we are excited to be
bringing this clean, green, modern vehicle
to Brisbane and the Redlands,” Agati said.
“Globally, Transdev is a leader in
zero-emissions mobility, and work is
underway to introduce new fleet and
innovations to Australia and New Zealand
over the coming months.
“Research, testing and design for our
future zero-emissions fleet will be led
from our newly opened Maintenance and
Engineering Centre of Excellence, also
based at our Capalaba Depot.”
ZERO-EMISSION FLEET
Member for Capalaba Don Brown toured
Transdev’s Capalaba depot recently and
says the new e-bus would help to power
Queensland’s e-mobility industry and
support jobs.
“Not only will the new vehicle be
powered by the more than 159,000kWh of
local sunshine collected on-site each year,
but it will be Queensland research and
experience that will shape the design and
introduction of [a] new zero-emission fleet,
both here in Queensland, and elsewhere
across the country,” member Brown said.
“Global economies have been hard-hit
by Covid-19, and both Australia and
Queensland have not been immune.
“But Queensland’s ongoing health
response means we can continue our
plan for economy recovery, which means
creating jobs on major transport projects
like new, more energy-efficient buses, our
$371 million smart ticketing system and
the Eastern Transitway.
“The Palaszczuk government is
committed to collaborating with
industry on the transition to electric
vehicles and infrastructure and services,
and Transdev’s decision to lead it’s [sic]
e-mobility operations from Queensland
is a recognition of the expertise and
innovation that we have here in the
Sunshine State.”
BUS FACTS
• Route testing will occur for two years
– to identify suitable routes (based on
geography, stopping pattern, etc.) for
optimal energy efficiency
• Capacity for 61 passengers – 39 sitting,
22 standing
• Up to 300-kilometre range per charge
(operating under normal conditions)
• 348kW size battery
• Battery fully charged in under
five hours
• Enhanced passenger comfort – reduced
noise, USB charging ports and electric
ramp
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ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au