South Australia’s first electric bus to begin operating in December

South Australia’s first Scania battery electric bus is set to hit the streets in December, joining 24 electric hybrid buses already in operation.

This first battery electric bus will allow Adelaide Metro, the capital’s public transport operator, to begin testing the new technology across a variety of public transport routes.

“The slated delivery of our first fully-electric Scania bus, to be tested across various public transport routes, signals an exciting step forward towards a cleaner, greener, zero-emission future for public transport in South Australia,” said Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia’s minister for infrastructure and transport.

“The new Scania bus will be the first of many fully-electric buses to take to our roads and will join the 24 electric hybrid buses already in operation.

“As well as eliminating noise and fuel-based pollution, electric buses offer passengers more space and better comfort and accessibility. So, it is a win both for commuters and the environment”

More electric buses on the way

Adelaide Metro is expecting to take delivery of additional electric buses over the next two years. However, these will be reliant on funding and fleet arrangements.

The announcement comes as the SA government takes delivery of its last new diesel rigid bus. All future rigid bus orders will either be hybrid electric or, preferably, fully electric.

Adelaide Metro already has 24 first generation electric hybrid buses in services across its network. The first new-generation electric hybrid buses, which boast double the zero-emissions range, will begin operations in Adelaide during November.

Bus fleet transition strategy under development

The South Australian government is also currently developing a zero-emission bus fleet transition strategy. It is unclear whether there is a timeline for delivery of this strategy.

Adelaide Metro announced in September 2021 it was investing in 17 new hybrid electric buses which would reduce emissions by up to 92%. The first three of these hybrid electric buses were introduced during 2021, with the remainder operating by January 2022.

South Australia’s public transport operator also announced last year that it was introducing twelve new Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains consisting of 36 railcars over the subsequent 12 months. This increased the number of electric railcars in the fleet from 66 to 102. It also enabled fully electric operations on the Seaford, Flinders and Gawler train lines.