Western Australia’s electric bus program is advancing rapidly, with contracts awarded to retrofit Perth’s Malaga bus depot with essential EV infrastructure.
The Malaga depot will be the first in the state to undergo significant upgrades, enabling it to fully charge a fleet of 90 electric buses overnight.
This development follows the partial upgrade of the Joondalup depot in 2022, which served as a trial for four electric buses, the government said in a media release.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King highlighted the importance of this initiative.
“Australia’s transport sector is the third largest source of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is why our Governments’ pursuit of an electric bus network is critical for our transition to net zero,” she said.
“The retrofitting of Malaga bus depot – which will be the first of many to be rolled out under this program – will deliver zero-emission public transport services for commuters now while supporting the growth of the WA capital.”
The $12 million contracts to extend and realign the bus parking area and install EV charging equipment at Malaga were awarded to Perth businesses Civcon and Gemtek.
This project represents a significant milestone in the $250 million joint initiative between the State and Federal Labor Governments.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti expressed optimism about the program’s growth. “In just two years, we have seen Transperth’s EV fleet grow exponentially,” she stated.
“What started out as four buses is now a commitment to provide 130 locally-built electric buses to be rolled out over the next two years. As this program continues to expand, we must ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support the day-to-day running of these buses. Upgrades to existing depots, such as the one in Malaga, are essential to the smooth and efficient operation of the electric bus fleet now and into the future.”
The Australian Government has committed $125 million towards electric bus charging infrastructure in Perth, while the Cook Government has matched this with another $125 million for the acquisition of 130 locally-manufactured electric buses.
Federal Member for Cowan Anne Aly underscored the broader benefits of the initiative.
“This program ticks many boxes for public transport growth in Perth’s northern suburbs, as well as minimising the impact on the environment, making it an incredible investment from the Albanese Labor Government in partnership with the Cook Labor Government,” she said.
“I’m pleased to see the Malaga bus depot in my electorate of Cowan as the starting point for a new zero-emission roll out of electric buses across Perth – a win-win outcome for all.”
The first electric CAT bus is set to enter formal passenger services within the week, marking the beginning of a new era in Perth’s public transport network.
This bus is one of 18 new electric buses that will be integrated into the Perth CAT bus network over the coming weeks.
Electric buses have been operating in Perth since early 2022, with four initially deployed on the Joondalup CAT route as part of a trial.
These buses have since transported over 440,000 passengers, covered more than 380,000 kilometres, and saved approximately 350 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Further conversions of bus depots to support the ongoing production and operation of electric buses are planned as part of the broader initiative to transition Perth’s public transport system to a more sustainable future.
