Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced that 40 new zero-emission buses will be rolled out in Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Redland Bay, and the Sunshine Coast throughout 2023.
Public transport provider Keolis Downer is set to launch 16 battery-powered buses to Hornibrook Bus Lines’ network serving Moreton Bay.
The new buses will operate out of a new all-electric bus depot built in North Lakes, according to a media release.
Transdev, which operates services in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs, is in the midst of gradually rolling out 17 battery electric buses.
Kinetic will have six more electric buses operating on the Sunshine Coast in the coming months, and a pair of electric buses, built at Volgren’s manufacturing facility at Eagle Farm, will operate on the Spring Hill Loop.
To date, a total of 25 battery electric buses are currently operating in Yarrabilba, Redland Bay, Cairns and on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
“We are getting on with the job of rolling out more sustainable buses in Queensland to meet our zero-emissions targets,” Minister Bailey said.
The minister pointed out the initiative aims to support more electric buses to hit the road, adding that the Queensland government plans for the future by looking to build more zero-emissions buses in the state.
Earlier this year, Queensland pledged to seek the construction of more zero-emissions buses in the state, and Bailey said the reaction from the industry has been very strong.
“We invited the market to come and talk to us, and what we saw was 70 different businesses and organisations come along to our industry roundtable discussions,” the minister explained.
He continued, “We heard from energy suppliers, tech businesses and delivery partners who all want to be a part of a greener, more sustainable bus industry.”
The minister also emphasised that engagement with industry has been an important step in developing Queensland’s bus manufacturing policy, so it supports the transition to a greener transport future.
“The Palaszczuk Government has made a commitment that from 2025 every new government-funded urban bus added to the SEQ fleet will be zero-emissions, and in the regions from between 2025 and 2030,” Minister Bailey concluded.
The government said the tiered implementation of the Zero Emission Bus Program intends to produce a 50 per cent decrease by 2030 and an 80 per cent reduction by 2035.
