Electric bus fleet gets thumbs up at Sydney Airport

Chinese electric vehicle specialist BYD Company is set to provide Sydney Airport with six wholly electric airport buses that form part of the airport’s A$5 million spend on eco-friendly ground transportation.

The Electric Blu bus will be the first one to be delivered by BYD, in joint venture with Carbridge, to replace a diesel bus fleet servicing the 7km shuttle route between T2/T3 and the Blu Emu car park – anticipated to be operational by the end of the year.

The electric buses can carry 70 passengers, feature purpose-designed luggage storage racks and have a range of 400km or up to 100 transfer journeys on a single charge.

The switch from diesel to electric will reduce carbon emissions by about 160 tonnes a year, improve local air quality, lower external noise levels, reduce waste fluids to zero and decrease the amount of toxic material generated during servicing.

Around two million travellers, visitors and airport workers use the shuttle service every year.

Sydney Airport has also been investing in charging stations and other ancillary equipment to support the electric bus fleet.

The airport is trialling electric cars as part of its ground transport fleet and investigating solar-powered charging stations to further decrease carbon emissions while research and development is under way for recycling and reuse of batteries and other components.

The airport has implemented a range of other environmental initiatives, including achievement of level two airport carbon accreditation in recognition of efforts to map, manage and reduce carbon emissions; establishment of a 25% carbon reduction target per passenger by 2020 and achievement of an 18% reduction over the past five years; offsetting carbon emissions through the Greenfleet programme; installing energy efficient lighting; investment to support cleaner, quieter and more fuel efficient next generation aircraft; and implementing and supporting other electric equipment and vehicles such as aircraft tugs.

BYD said Australia has established an electric forklift distribution network in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with over 20 orders already placed for its different forklift models, and estimated orders for another 100 units in the next six to 12 months.

A BYD e6 pure electric crossover sedan has recently been delivered to the airport, with an additional order taken for another 10 units.

Future plans for Australia will continue to focus on the K9 bus, the C6 coach, the e6 and forklifts.