The Andrews Labor Government is continuing its push towards a cleaner and more sustainable regional bus fleet with the introduction of regional Victoria's first electric bus as part of the Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) Trial.
The Government's $20 million, Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) Trial will inform the transition of around 4,000 diesel buses in the state's public fleet, including around 2,200 in regional Victoria, to zero emissions. From 2025, all new buses on Victoria's public transport routes will be zero emissions.
As part of the Zero Emissions Bus Trial, bus operator Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL) has introduced regional Victoria's first battery electric bus on routes in the Latrobe Valley. This is supported by the installation of a new charging station by Victorian-based infrastructure company Mondo at LVBL's Traralgon depot where the new electric bus will be based.
Latrobe Valley Bus Lines is one of six operators across Victoria taking part in the three-year ZEB Trial which will see 52 zero emission buses - 50 electric and two hydrogen - rolled out across Melbourne, Traralgon and Seymour.
Data collected will provide practical information such as how zero emission buses perform and the energy and charging requirements for different types of routes. It will also give insights into how the buses can improve financial and environmental sustainability.
The trial is also fostering vital local industry partnerships - such as with energy providers and manufacturers - that will be needed to achieve the transition across the state. Almost all of the electric bus bodies in the trial will be built at Volgren's Dandenong South manufacturing facility in Victoria, supporting local jobs and injecting money into the local economy.
Creating a greener fleet is part of Victoria's Bus Plan to develop a modern and reliable network that attracts more passengers, with the new, greener buses critical to the Victorian Government's goal of net zero emissions by 2045.
As stated by Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
"Tackling emissions in the bus industry is critical to Victoria meeting its new commitment of net zero emissions by 2045 and we have a plan to achieve that by investing in greener technologies and supporting local manufacturing."
"We're proud to be working alongside Latrobe Valley Bus Lines and the local bus industry to trial new greener technology in the region."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing
"Latrobe Valley Bus Line's new electric bus will be quieter and cleaner than standard diesel buses, reducing the impact on the environment and helping set us on a path to zero emission public transport on the bus network in Gippsland."
As stated by Cody Roxburgh, General Manager, Latrobe Valley Bus Lines
"Latrobe Valley Bus Lines led the way for emerging technologies in the bus industry with its implementation of the first hybrid route service buses in Australia and is again at the forefront of pioneering new vehicle technology with the release of the first fully electric zero emission bus in regional Victoria."
