Western Australia has reached a major milestone in public transport, with its first locally manufactured electric bus commencing passenger services.
This move is part of the state’s broader effort to deliver a cleaner and lower-emissions transport network, the government said in a media statement.
The first electric bus, set to operate on Perth’s Central Area Transit (CAT) routes in the CBD, marks the beginning of a wider rollout.
Seventeen additional electric CAT buses are expected to join the fleet by mid-next year. These buses will be supported by newly installed charging infrastructure at the Elizabeth Quay Bus Depot.
Each electric bus has the capacity to travel up to 300 kilometres on a single charge and is projected to save around 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Studies show that the operating costs of these buses are approximately $1 million lower over their 18-year service life compared to their diesel counterparts.
“This is a big milestone for our electric bus manufacturing program, and I am thrilled the community will now be able to jump on board the first locally-made zero-emission bus,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
“In expanding the State’s fleet of electric buses, we are not only reducing carbon emissions, but we’re also creating positive change economically by supporting more than 100 local jobs and saving up to $1 million in operating costs over its 18-year service life.”
The electric bus delivery is part of a $250 million joint initiative between the State and Commonwealth governments.
This initiative aims to introduce 130 new electric buses to Western Australia’s public transport network, while also upgrading depots with necessary infrastructure.
Supporting this effort, the State Government has awarded $12 million in contracts to Perth-based businesses Civcon and Gemtek to retrofit the Malaga bus depot for electric bus charging capabilities.
The first electric bus for this depot is expected next year, servicing both the northern suburbs and Perth’s CBD. Additional upgrades are also planned for depots in Karrinyup, Whiteman Park, and Claisebrook.
“Our Government is driving the revitalisation of our city and is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to create jobs, economic activity and attract more people to the Perth CBD,” said Perth MLA John Carey.
“It’s brilliant that our new locally-made electric Perth CAT buses will be rolling out from today, ensuring our city remains connected and helping deliver lower emissions across our transport network.”
The initiative is expected to support more than 100 local jobs, including nine apprenticeships, while also preparing the workforce for the growing electric bus fleet through specialized high-voltage technical training.
Transport Minister Saffioti expressed optimism for the future, stating, “In the next couple of years, we will see the fleet of electric buses grow substantially, while significant investment will also be undertaken to ensure our network of depots have the infrastructure in place to support operations.”
