ACT’s first electric bus starts service - the aim is zero transport emissions

The ACT government's first electric bus (Source Twitter)

On its way to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, Canberra’s local government purchased its first electric bus which started operation this week. CanberraTransport runs the bus fleet and it plans to have 100% zero emission vehicles (including light rail) by 2040.

In October 2019, the ACT achieved its goal of 100% renewable electricity target by 2020 (three months early) with the start of deliveries of power from the Hornsdale Stage 3 109MW wind farm in South Australia. So with the grid having 100% renewable electricity, the bus is greenhouse gas emissions free.

It is now looking to reduce the next largest source of carbon emissions, transport, which now makes up 60% of the ACT’s emissions thanks to the decarbonisation of the ACT grid, as part of a wider plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. Therefore many more electric buses will joint the fleet.

The bus is a Yutong Electric E12, which is a more modern electric bus than those previously trialled in 2017 and has already proved successful in other jurisdictions. It has an approximate 400km driving range before needing to recharge at the Tuggeranong Depot.

Read more:
- ACT introduces first electric bus on path to zero transport emissions. The Driven, November 12, 2019.
See also:
- NSW unveils plan to switch Sydney’s 8,000 buses to all electric. The Driven, October 28, 2019.
- Victorian-made electric buses ready to run. Manufacturers’ Monthly, October 30, 2019.