Australian gentailer EnergyAustralia has been selected to deliver the charging backbone CDC Victoria’s Oakleigh bus depot in Melbourne’s south-east, which will enable it to support up to 85 electric buses at its peak.
EnergyAustralia was selected as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) manager for the electrification process, and will deliver the grid upgrade, new main switchboards, charging power units, chargers, and all associated electrical and civil works, though it will draw on specialise delivery partners where necessary.
Once the upgrades are completed, the Oakleigh bus depot will be capable of supporting more than 77 battery electric buses at peak, although the design has been future proofed for up to 85 electric buses to allow room for CDC’s fleet expansion plans.
The Oakleigh depot already operates eight battery electric buses, which have been in operation since September 2024. The multi-year upgrade process will take place alongside normal bus operations.
“Behind every electric bus is the charging infrastructure that keeps it running, and that’s what EnergyAustralia is here to build,” said Jack Kotlyar, head of green transport at EnergyAustralia.
“As more operators move to zero-emission fleets, they need a partner who can deliver at scale, and that’s the role we want to play in Australia’s transport transition.
“This project will give CDC Victoria’s Oakleigh depot the equipment to charge its buses overnight, ready for service each morning, with room to grow. It builds on the eight battery electric buses already running from the site, and we’re proud to help CDC take the next step.”
CDC, a multi-modal transport provider, and its Victorian bus transport subsidiary CDC Victoria, have already secured franchise contracts for a third of Melbourne’s bus network, and will be vying for more after the Victorian government earlier this month opened the tender for its Metropolitan ZEB (Zero Emission Bus) Franchise 2 (MZF2) procurement process.
The electrification of the Oakleigh bus depot is expected to begin later this year with initial civil works and comes a week after CDC announced that it would partner with London based fleet electrification specialist Zenobē on the construction of a new depot in Truganina, which will become the largest in Melbourne’s Western suburbs.
Once complete, the Truganina depot will be equipped with charging infrastructure capable of supporting over 130 electric buses, and future room for growth.
The electrification of its Oakleigh bus depot is part of CDC Victoria’s larger efforts to transition its operations towards zero-emission transport, as well as supporting the objectives of Victoria’s Metropolitan ZEB Program.
“This project represents a significant milestone in CDC Victoria’s transition to a zero-emission future and demonstrates our commitment to delivering more sustainable public transport for the communities we serve,” said Jeff Wilson, CDC Victoria CEO.
“The successful introduction of hybrid and battery electric buses over recent years has shown the benefits these technologies can deliver for passengers, drivers and local communities. Electrifying the Oakleigh depot enables us to scale those benefits across our network while supporting Victoria’s broader decarbonisation ambitions.
“As we continue to expand our electric fleet, passengers will experience cleaner, quieter and more comfortable journeys, while local communities benefit from reduced emissions and improved air quality. We are proud to be playing a leading role in shaping the future of sustainable public transport in Victoria.”
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