More e-buses added to Wellington fleet

Tranzurban is adding 31 new double-deck electric buses to its Wellington fleet.

It introduced 10 double-deck e-buses to Wellington in 2018 as part of the Metlink service there in partnership with the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and committed to adding 22 more by 2021.

However, with the company now including an additional nine EV buses, it means 41 double-deck EVs will eventually transport passengers around Wellington.

The latest announcement delivers on promises to build a modern and reliable electric bus fleet and help reduce Wellington’s carbon emissions and air pollution, the company’s transport and operations director Keven Snelgrove says.

He says the EV fleet is proving extremely successful.

“Earlier this month our EV double deck fleet travelled over 2000km in a single day, meaning we saved more than 1300 litres of diesel and prevented around 3.54 tonnes of CO2 entering Wellington’s atmosphere in a single day.

“If we are to extrapolate these figures over a total fleet of 41 EV double decks per annum, then the environmental benefits will be significant.”

Metlink passenger Jeran Clarke enjoyed travelling on one of Tranzurban’s EV buses on the No.1 route.

“I had my first ride on one, never been on a smoother more quieter bus in my life!”

Snelgrove says feedback like this is common.

“Passengers love travelling on our EV buses and our drivers love driving them. They’re clean, green and make the most our country’s renewable energy.”

Tranzurban’s EV journey began in 2014, after its parent company Tranzit partnered with Auckland University of Technology in a joint application to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s low emission vehicles contestable fund. After developing EV1, New Zealand’s first commercially operated 100% battery powered electric bus now based in Auckland, the company collaborated with GWRC to introduce 10 double-deck EV buses and supporting charging infrastructure into Wellington.

These buses were built by Kiwi Bus Builders in Tauranga, as will be the 31-strong new fleet.

Kiwi Bus Builders managing director Richard Drummond says up to an additional 30 staff will be brought on as the project develops and comes at a critical time after COVID-19.

“This is really great news,” he says.

“It continues the joint accomplishments already achieved between Kiwi Bus Builders and Tranzit and gives us a strong foundation and opportunity to build back up. It also enables us to continue our world leading research and development projects we’ve previously worked on.”

The buses will be built using chassis and electronics sourced from world leading Chinese bus manufacturer CRRC/UT and batteries from CATL.

New charging infrastructure will be installed at Tranzurban’s Grenada depot, adding to chargers at the company’s Rongotai depot and a fast charger at Reef Street in Island Bay.

Meanwhile, NZ Bus is having 67 single deck buses built in China for delivery to Wellington starting in 2021.