The South Australian Government has ordered sixty battery-electric buses from Scania. The new bus bodies will be constructed by Australian manufacturer Volgren.
In addition, two global engineering advisory firms have been appointed to assist in planning the transition to a zero-emission passenger transport network.
The new bus fleet will be powered by charging infrastructure being installed at the Morphettville depot.
The buses are being supplied by Scania and will be delivered progressively from the second half of 2025 through early 2026. Currently, one battery-electric bus is in operation following a successful trial.
Alongside environmental benefits, battery-electric buses are expected to enhance passenger experience by reducing noise and eliminating emissions from fuel combustion.
To support a broader transition to a decarbonised transport network, the South Australian Government has engaged engineering consultancy firms Mott MacDonald and WSP. These companies will develop detailed business cases for transitioning both bus and rail networks to zero-emission operation.
The South Australian Government has committed to reducing emissions by at least 60 percent of 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The scope of work for Mott MacDonald and WSP includes consolidating existing planning and feasibility studies into a detailed business case for a fully zero-emission transport network in Adelaide.
This initiative follows high-level discussions held by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis with international rail companies at InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin. The discussions focused on plans to expand the use of battery-electric trains in South Australia.
The Adelaide Metro bus fleet currently comprises over 1000 vehicles powered by a mix of diesel, hybrid, battery-electric, and natural gas technologies. Two hydrogen fuel cell buses are also under trial. Since September 2022, the procurement of diesel-only buses has ceased, with new purchases being either hybrid or battery-electric.
The Adelaide Metro rail network has also undergone partial electrification, with the Gawler and Seaford lines, including the Flinders spur, now running electric trains. The Belair and Outer Harbor lines, along with the Grange and Port Dock spurs, continue to use hybrid-diesel railcars.
The business cases for achieving full zero-emission operation are expected to be completed by early 2026.
