Plugged in: Siemens charges up Victoria e-buses, Sydney charger trials, ACT garbage truck

The Victoria government’s $20 million electric bus trial will be supported by Siemens charging infrastructure, the electrification giant announced today.

Three e-bus trials in La Trobe’s Traralgon, Sunbury in Melbourne’ west and the regional town of Seymour will be charged up using Siemens’ Sicharge UC charging centre and dispensers, while Siemens charging management software will be used to keep track of the real-time status of the Volvo and Custom Dennings buses.

By using data from the charging sessions bus operators will be able to adopt smart charging strategies to save on electricity costs, improving financial as well as environmental outcomes.

The Siemens systems can charge up to five e-buses at a time, and can be configured to match local switchboard capacities. The Victorian Zero Emissions Bus Trial is expected to be underway by the end of 2022, and will go for three years.

Sydney’s inner west to trial kerbside and carpark EV chargers

Sydney’s Inner West council announced on Thursday that it will trial kerbside and car park EV chargers as it looks to make it easier for residents, many of whom live in terraces or apartments without access to driveways and garages, to transition to electric cars.

“We know that EVs are on the rise across Australia and the Inner West is a prime candidate for driving this uptake even further,”Inner West councillor Chloe Smith says.

“Many Inner West residents are climate-conscious and have the means to invest in cleaner, greener technology. This pilot will identify locations of highest demand and greatest accessibility across the LGA, paving the way for a big expansion of public charging infrastructure.”

Endorsed at a recent council meeting, the trial will see a number of chargers installed in key locations with public consultation due to be conducted in July through to August. A final report and recommendations will be published in September/October.

Canberra gets electric garbage truck

The ACT government has deployed an electric garbage truck in Canberra, as it continues to tackle the capital territory’s transport emissions.

Developed by SEA Electric in collaboration with Bucher Municipal Pty Ltd, the converted electric garbage truck is built on a Hino FE 1426 body using a SEA Electric drivetrain and has 190km driving range when empty.

The two-week trial will be used to assess how the ACT’s entire waste collection fleet can transition to electric mobility, said ACT’s minister for transport and city services Chris Steel in a statement.

The electric garbage truck joins 12 electric buses on transport Canberra’s fleet, the first of a planned 90 e-buses.

“Zero emissions technology has advanced significantly for heavy vehicles, and we want to be ready to bring on new waste trucks to provide cleaner, quieter waste and recycling services to the Canberra community. This trial is another important step in that direction,” said Steel.