Go Bus and Siemens to install EV charging network

One of New Zealand’s largest bus operators Go Bus is installing charging infrastructure from global technology giant Siemens to power 34 buses at depots in Auckland and Christchurch.

The charging infrastructure will support 25 electric buses in Christchurch, the city’s first large-scale electric bus fleet and nine buses in Auckland that will operate on the new electric airport link. The operations are scheduled to start in early 2021.

The ‘Sicharge UC eBus’ charging infrastructure will help New Zealand’s sustainability goals with Auckland aiming to have a full zero emission bus fleet by 2040.

Siemens has previously worked with KiwiRail on the electrification and re–signalling of Auckland’s urban rail network.

“As a national bus operator, Go Bus needs to be agile and adapt to many fast-moving changes when transitioning to electric bus transport,” Go Bus chief executive Calum Haslop says.

“It’s also important that any investments we make now, take into account rapid advances in battery technology and digitalisation.

“Siemens’ independent charging infrastructure and management software provides us with the most future-proof solutions and flexibility,” Haslop says.

The Siemens Sicharge UC range is designed to be future proofed against rapid advances in battery technology. It enables bus operators to economically expand charging infrastructure with up to five dispensers plus a pantograph charger per charging centre.

Siemens New Zealand chief executive Paul Ravlich says it’s great to see the company’s technology play a crucial role in the country’s low carbon future.

“From how energy is sourced, stored and distributed to facilitating the movement of people in our cities, since the 1800s Siemens’ technology has supported several critical infrastructure projects in New Zealand. We’re excited to keep looking forward and help guide the country to a more sustainable future,” he says.

Ravlich says 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.

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 electricity savings.

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.