IN FOCUS
BUSWAYS E-BUS TRIAL
COFFS HARBOUR E-BUS TRIAL BEGINS Coffs Harbour locals have been getting the chance to experience zeroemissions bus rides thanks to Busways’ trial of a Yutong E12 along school and route services, recently.
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s the first electric bus on the roads of the NSW midnorth coast city, the aim is to test the vehicle and charging technology in a regional environment, Busways explains. The electric bus is fitted with 374kW/h battery capacity, giving it a range of up to 400km on a single charge under current conditions in Coffs Harbour. The bus provides lower energy consumption resulting in a quieter, smoother experience for customers and better air quality for the community, Busways adds. The Yutong E12 Series incorporates advanced technologies, including 28
regenerative braking, which extends the vehicle’s driving range, and fast charging in three hours, Yutong explains. It’s also equipped with a wheelchair ramp and dual wheelchair areas with back stop for passenger safety in its ultra-low-floor design. “Electric buses are our future and we’re pleased to be trialling the first electric bus on the north coast,” Busways’ managing director Byron Rowe said. “There’s a lot to do to reach a fully electric fleet such as innovative policy making, joint planning, infrastructure requirements, and industry engagement, such as trials like this one.”
FLEET STARTEGY Minister for regional transport and roads Paul Toole says the NSW government was committed to transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet as part of its strategy to make public transport more sustainable. “The launch of this trial is exciting because its outcomes will help shape how we move in and around the regions into the future,” Minister Toole said. “Trials like these help us learn more about what fit electric buses could have in the regions, particularly where longer distance routes are more common than in metro areas, as well as how to factor in charging times.
ABC March 2021 busnews.com.au
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16/03/2021 10:51:30 AM
