The Volvo buses will be assembled at Volgren’s Eagle Farm plan and locally-sourced solar at Transdev’s Capalaba depot will help power the buses, which will service Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.
These new electric buses are in addition Transdev’s recent orders for two hydrogen fuel cell buses as well.
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced the new electric bus order today at Volgren’s Eagle Farm manufacturing plant.
Transdev Queensland Head of Business Operations Mark Thatcher said Transdev was proud to be working with the Queensland Government and local suppliers.
“These new buses are quieter and fully featured vehicles which I hope our Redlands customers will enjoy,” Mr Thatcher said.
“Major depot work is underway now including cabling, utilities and new vehicle chargers to set us up for our electric and hydrogen-based future.
“This is also about upskilling our local workforce in this renewable energy space with technical skills that will be transferrable to other industries.
“We hope the work we are doing with Translink provides an indicator of suitable specifications for operators moving to zero-emission buses in the future.”
Transdev was the first operator to run Australia’s first 100 per cent sustainably powered full-size electric bus powered by a depot solar array with more than 230 solar panels.
Fast Facts:
• 17 new zero-emission electric buses for the Redlands
• Dual motor, 300kW power, 12.5m Volvo BZL buses
• 43 seats per bus
• Manufactured in Australia