Labor’s Meg Brown says Metro’s $11m hydrogen buses idle and shows ‘incompetence’

As Metro’s trial of electric buses continues to be fraught with problems, it has been revealed its hydrogen buses are still not on the road. Read the latest.

Hydrogen buses at Metro's Moonah headquarters

It has been revealed three new $11m hydrogen buses are sitting unused at Metro’s Moonah depot – while problems continue with the trial of electric buses in Launceston.

The bus union has labelled the trials “a farce” and the Labor Opposition has likened the delay in trialling the hydrogen buses to the Spirit of Tasmania debacle where a wharf for the new boats will not be ready until 2027.

Metro, however, says it is “well advanced” to conduct the hydrogen bus trial and is awaiting a supply of hydrogen.

It has confirmed “some defect and operational” issues with the electric buses and is working with the manufacturer to install replacement parts.

Labor member for Franklin Meg Brown speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Labor’s transport spokeswoman Meg Brown has questioned the money spent on the hydrogen buses if they are not being used.

“The Liberals spent $11m worth of taxpayer money on buses that just sit idle because there’s no way to fuel them,” she said.

“It’s a bit like buying new Spirits ships but forgetting to ensure they can dock.

“This could be funny if it wasn’t serious. Even though the money spent on hydrogen buses is a drop in the ocean compared with the Spirits Fiasco, it’s equally frustrating and demonstrates the same incompetence.”

Ms Brown said the $11m could help fund security screens for drivers and transit safety officers

A Metro spokesman said the bus company was “well advanced” with its plans to conduct a three-year trial involving three Hydrogen Electric Buses (HEB) in Hobart.

“The buses have been delivered to Metro, with awareness training delivered to staff,” he said.

“The dedicated Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HRS), which will refuel the HEBs at Metro’s Mornington Depot, has been delivered.

“Metro and its partners continue to work together to deliver the supply of hydrogen.”

The two-year trial of four electric buses in Launceston was paused in February this year due to “teething issues” after the new fleet fell prey to software problems.

“The trial period has identified some defect and operational issues, as well as important learnings, that Metro continues to work through with the bus manufacturer, Custom Denning,” the spokesman said.

“The manufacturer was onsite last week to install replacement parts.

“These replacement parts will be installed on the remainder of the fleet next week.”

Rail, Tram and Bus Union Tasmanian branch secretary Byron Cubit. Picture: Supplied

Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Byron Cubit said the electric bus trial had been fraught with problems and there was no reason why the hydrogen buses could not be run on batteries

“The whole trial is a farce,” he said.

“The electric buses were delivered months ago and three of them have been sitting idle for months and they are still aren’t running.

“They’ve had a whole range of issues with them. Every time they fix one issue, they find another.

“The hydrogen buses have just been sitting around, which is weird, because they can run them on batteries.

“When they first arrived and we first found out that there was no hydrogen, the response was ‘oh well, they can run on electric batteries

“It’s ridiculous.”

Mr Cubit said electric buses had been used interstate for years.

“This is not some flash, new technological marvel. This is just stock standard getting some electric buses.”