Auckland transport accelerates low emissions bus uptake...after LowCVP support
Sun 08 September 2019
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Auckland Transport is accelerating the uptake of low emission buses including electric and fuel cell models as part of its transition to a low emissions bus fleet. Auckland is working to a strategy outlined in its 'Low Emissions Bus Roadmap' which builds upon work provided to city strategists by the LowCVP in 2017-18 and which is referenced in the city's Bus Roadmap.
Electrive reports that as Auckland Transport continues to accelerate the Low Emissions Bus Roadmap, the public transport provider has ordered two ‘extra-large’ electric buses from China's Yutong and six BYD electric buses, as well as the city’s first fuel cell bus (that will be made in New Zealand).
Auckland Transport will trial hydrogen fuel cell buses in partnership with bus operators and Ports of Auckland, who are building a hydrogen production and refuelling facility at their Waitematā port.
The first fuel cell bus will be built in New Zealand by Global Bus Ventures (GBV), located in Christchurch on the South Island of the Antipodean country. It will be 13.5m long with three-axles and provide capacity for up to 78 passengers. The bus is expected to start trials from September 2020.
Two Yutong buses will be the first ‘extra-large’ electric buses used in Auckland, able to carry up to 78 passengers. The buses are expected to arrive in the middle of next year. Arriving at the same time are also the first six electric buses for Waiheke Island (in the Auckland bay) from Alexander Dennis & BYD.
Auckland Transport's Low Emissions Bus Roadmap outlines how the city plans to procure only low emission buses from 2025 and to have a full low emission fleet by 2040.
Auckland commissioned work from the LowCVP in 2016. The collaboration included a series of discussions and presentations, enabling the Auckland authority to benefit from experience gained in the UK from projects such as the Waterloo Bus project which has been restructured to provide large amounts of electricity to London's bus fleet. LowCVP's work also covered life-cycle analysis of the various alternative bus technologies available and culminated in a final report which was presented to the city authorities in early 2018.
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