NSW electric bus plan: extra $1.9b in upfront costs to convert fleet
The eye-watering cost and need for a massive infrastructure overhaul could derail the NSW Government’s zero-emissions plan to convert the state’s bus fleet from diesel to electric.
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Upfront costs and massive infrastructure requirements could derail plans to transform the state’s public bus system into a zero-emission, electric network.
A NSW Government inquiry examining the bid to convert the state’s 8000-strong fleet of buses from diesel to electric has uncovered government agencies and bus companies are concerned about the cost of rolling out new technology to make the vision a reality.
A Transport for NSW representative revealed upgrading the entire fleet to electric would cost an extra $1.9 billion, with the purchase price of a single electric bus being “around $240,000 more” than an equivalent diesel bus.
“However, these electric buses are already cost competitive with diesel buses in total operating costs, with the price offset by operational savings generated over their service lifetime,” the representative told the inquiry.
“Increasing demand for electric buses could also bring their purchase price down … (and) forecasts predict that electric buses will reach unsubsidised upfront cost parity with diesel buses by around 2030.”
The representative said evidence suggested fuelling costs could be more than halved from $64 per day to less than $30 using electric buses, however major infrastructure upgrades at depots and on public routes would be required to charge buses.
“The operation of electric buses can be less flexible than diesel buses, due to their battery
range and reliance on charging,” he said.
“This creates a challenge when incorporating them into bus routes that run over long periods of time.”
Current electric buses being used in Leichhardt take between five to eight hours to charge and are forced to return to the depot — meaning quick charging stations would need to be installed along each route to continue services.
The representative said a “complete system” would be required: “The installation of the charging station, as well as integrating charging into routes and layovers, remain the most difficult parts.
Transdev Chief Executive Luke Agati told the inquiry the transition to an electric fleet is “not just about introducing new electric buses”.
“Easy, economical and reliable recharging infrastructure is also an essential requirement,” Mr Agati said. “Additional to this investment, there is also the issue of the capacity of the electricity distribution grid to support more electric public transport.”
The representative from one of Sydney’s largest bus companies said while electric vehicles are currently the most advanced low emission transport technology, “innovation in hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen production are expected to make hydrogen mass transit vehicles more viable in the medium to long term”.
Transdev expects to operate more than 1500 zero-emission buses by 2024.
A Transport Workers Union spokesman said the lack of noise generated from electric buses would increase the risk of accidents involving pedestrians.
“The TWU is aware that drivers driving the small number of electric buses currently on
trial in the New South Wales fleet are required to activate a horn or bell-like warning to alert other road users of their presence,” the spokesman said.
“This extra effort for drivers means more distractions to the driver, and increases the chance of incidents occurring.”
Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced the call to transition the fleet to electric buses in October as part of calls for contract bids for 13 regional bus contracts across Sydney.