Tranzurban gets gold for going green

In recognition of its long-term commitment to electrifying public transport, Wellington bus operator Tranzurban won the Green Gold Award at the annual Wellington Gold Awards.

The company was declared a winner at an awards ceremony in the TSB Arena in Wellington for its commitment to building a modern and reliable electric bus fleet and for reducing carbon emissions. 

Parent company Tranzit managing director Paul Snelgrove and Tranzit’s transport and operations director Keven Snelgrove accepted the award on behalf of Tranzurban.

The two brothers are delighted their fourth generation, family-owned company was acknowledged for its commitment to growing EV public transport in New Zealand and thanked all those who have helped them along the way.

This included the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority’s low emission vehicles contestable fund, the Auckland University of Technology, Tauranga based Kiwi Bus Builders where all the company’s EV buses are built, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council which introduced modern electric buses into Wellington in 2018.

Tranzurban is adding 31 more double-deck electric buses into Wellington over the next two years, and its in the process of converting two double-deck diesel buses to electric.

“We have 31 double deck electric buses on build now and we are very proud that our EV buses have been built in New Zealand,” Paul Snelgrove says.

“It cost us more, but we are proud to protect New Zealand business.

“We do have a number of diesel double deck buses on the road in Wellington … and the first of these has arrived in Masterton and this will be repowered 100% electric,” he adds.

“That will be repowered in our workshop by trained apprentices through our own training so it’s a big proud moment for the team.”

Snelgrove pays tribute to Tranzurban drivers for keeping the Wellington public transport system going during the COVID-19 restrictions.

Keven Snelgrove says electrifying its Wellington vehicles has been a four-year journey.

“It’s been a hell of a ride. But the most important people to us is our team who made this happen,” he says.

“We have around 20 workshop team members who have gone from working on our Euro 6 diesel bus technology into EVs and these guys have done an amazing job to make this happen. But the most important ones to thank are our team who goes and drive them.”

Tranzit’s EV journey began in 2014 after it partnered with Auckland University of Technology in a joint application to the EECA administered fund.

After developing EV1, New Zealand’s first commercially operated 100% battery powered electric bus now based in Auckland, the company’s subsidiary Tranzurban was launched and then collaborated with GWRC to introduce 10 EV double-deckers (EVDDs) and supporting charging infrastructure into Wellington in 2018.

Kiwi Bus Builders will also build the 31 new ones.

Keven Snelgrove says the 10 EVDDs regularly travel more than 2000km a day, saving about 1300 litres of diesel while around 3.54 tonnes of CO2 is prevented from entering Wellington’s atmosphere daily.

When then the company begins operating its full fleet of 41 EVDDs in Wellington, these environmental benefits will be even more significant, he says.

Tranzurban’s other buses include 225 Euro 6 diesel buses, which meet the highest global emission standards.

The Wellington Gold Awards established in 1999 celebrate business excellence and enterprise in that region.