Christchurch welcomes country’s first lightweight electric double-decker bus

Christchurch has become home to New Zealand’s first lightweight electric double-decker bus with the vehicle joining Metro’s fleet on Monday, March 2.

Developed by automotive manufacturer Geely in partnership with bus operator Kinetic, the new bus is the lightest of its kind in the country and does not require a special road weight permit.

Canterbury Regional Council chair Dr Deon Swiggs says the addition will boost capacity on busy routes.

“It will help add extra capacity to our network where we need it the most,” Swiggs says.

The bus is expected to begin operating on Metro’s Route 7 Halswell–Queenspark service and will also be trialled on several of the network’s busier routes.

Swiggs says the vehicle underwent nearly two years of development, with this being the fourth iteration produced by Geely.

“The intense development and testing of this vehicle demonstrates how cutting edge it is,” he says.

Earlier prototypes failed to meet New Zealand’s strict road weight limits. The final version was engineered to comply fully, making it the first electric double-decker in the country able to operate without a special permit.

The bus is built using aerospace-grade aluminium similar to materials used in aircraft construction, resulting in a lighter and stronger frame than traditional steel designs. The council says the lighter construction reduces road wear, tyre and brake use, and energy consumption.

The vehicle can carry up to 95 passengers, including 14 standing downstairs. It features a ground-level screen showing seat availability upstairs, and upper-deck cameras allowing the driver to monitor passengers disembarking.

Councillor Joe Davies says the arrival marks a significant milestone.

“We’re proud to be the first public transport authority to bring this exceptional new zero-emission vehicle to the public,” Davies says.

“We’re looking forward to using this bus to better serve our community for the next 12 months. As the trial period goes on, we’ll be able to assess its benefits and consider our options going forward.”

Kinetic New Zealand managing director Calum Haslop says the bus was designed to meet local regulatory requirements while remaining light enough to operate across Christchurch’s bridges and infrastructure.

“It’s efficient, practical, and designed to help Environment Canterbury bring next-generation, zero-emission public transport to their communities,” Haslop says.

The new double-decker is the first electric version of its kind in Metro’s fleet and only the second double-decker overall. It brings Metro’s total number of electric buses to 71 as the network works toward a fully electric fleet by 2035.