ABC #402

COVERSTORY
INTERLINE BCI E-BUS
(curiously designated EV Citirider for
Interline, but we are assured this was just
the way the destination sign was set up)
marks its first Australian operator delivery of
this model on these shores, which is a key
feather in BCI’s cap for local bus industry
acceptance, given the strict Transport for
NSW Panel 3 requirements that needed
to be met.
“BCI has a long history of building clean
energy buses being one of the pioneer
Australian manufacturers to build both
hybrid/electric and full electric buses back
in the late ’00s,” said BCI Victoria state
manager, Cameron Millen.
“The latest BCI Citirider E has been a
two-year project and was heavily centred
around R&D. Taking the learnings of those
early days we spent a lot of time researching
products to ensure we had the latest, and
highest quality componentry available.
“Our vision as a company was to design
and build a zero-emission bus that could
replace a diesel bus in terms of operational
requirements, driveability and passenger
experience.
“For the most part, the passengers and
driver wouldn’t know they were on an
electric bus; the big giveaway is just how
quiet and smooth the Citirider E is.
In terms of current NSW e-bus running
requirements, Millen explained: “The BCI
prototype electric bus was designed and
built as a TfNSW panel bus. NSW currently
has the largest uptake of electric buses,
so it made sense to build the bus to this
Our vision as a company was to design and
build a zero-emission bus that could replace
a diesel bus.
specification. About the only changes to
the EV that ABC magazine tested and
the one we delivered is the livery and the
addition of the Opal ticketing system. The
passenger seats were also changed due to
the customers’ requirements.
“With regard to the mirrors, this is
something the operator has changed after
delivery. BCI hopes to offer this option in the
future once testing and approval has been
done.”
In terms of delivery times, Millen stated:
“The build times for the EV are quicker than
a diesel bus. This is mostly due to lead time
of components – engines from Europe,
transmission from Europe, etc.”
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE
So what is the Citirider E’s advantage over
its marketplace rivals? Millen explained:
“Basically weight, dimension and battery
capacity.
“We have one of the lightest e-buses
on the market built to 12.5 metres – not
12 metres [meaning increased seating
capacity] with 403kW of battery storage
[currently completing in excess of a 16-hour
shift with about 30 per cent charge in
reserve].” Oliveri confirms this, stating the
bus will do 16 hours and that Interline has
tried it already on a double shift.
“This allows the operator to run the bus
on a double shift and only need to charge
overnight using off-peak electricity,” he
added.
“We can supply individual bus chargers,
or in the case of large fleets we work with
some of the larger supply companies that
provide large-scale fleet systems.”
“It is also worth noting that BCI are
the Australian service agents for CATL
batteries. CATL are one of the largest battery
manufacturers in the world. Their batteries
are found in many brands of EV vehicles
from cars, trucks and buses – including the
BCI Citirider E,” he explained.
“We are hopeful the product will be taken
up by the other states.”
ABOUT INTERLINE
Interline Bus Services in NSW provides
school and route bus services in
Campbelltown, Minto, Raby, Macquarie
Fields, Ingleburn, Bow Bowing and
Liverpool, it states.
The company operates scheduled
bus services in Sydney Metropolitan Bus
Region 2.
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ABC February 2021 busnews.com.au