Electric buses coming to SA roads

Four eco-friendly buses are currently being built in northern Adelaide thanks to $2 million in South Australian (SA) Government funding.

A strategic alliance comprised of Precision Components and Bustec is designing, engineering and manufacturing the buses, while specialist engineering, manufacturing and supply chain development support is provided by ZF Lemforder Australia.

The SA-government funded project includes the manufacture of two advanced diesel buses and two electric buses.

It has since led to a commercial agreement for an additional 12 buses to be manufactured in northern Adelaide next year, for use interstate.

The agreement will create 15 new jobs in northern Adelaide and there is further potential for another 70 new jobs as the manufacture of the buses progresses.

Once built, the buses will be trialled on Adelaide’s main public transport network to provide the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure with information about how electric and low carbon emission buses might be used.

Currently 20 Adelaide-based workers are employed on the project and the alliance continues to build the team. The alliance also met with 22 potential Adelaide-based suppliers, including those currently supplying the automotive industry.

“This project will not only create new jobs, but will provide automotive suppliers with another avenue for diversification,” says SA manufacturing and innovation Minister Kyam Maher.