As part of the Victorian Government’s Zero Emissions Bus Trial, the state’s first fully electric bus depot will open in Melbourne, Australia.
Bus operator, Ventura will convert its Ivanhoe depot into a fully electric facility with 15 charging units to power electric buses. The depot will feature a new on-site substation and battery-management technology.
Work on converting the depot is set to begin in July and will be completed by November 2022.
By early 2024, the depot will charge 27 electric buses to operate on nine routes across Melbourne’s northern suburbs. The zero-emission-at-the-tailpipe buses will transport up to 10,000 people each week and cover more than 1.2 million kilometres a year. The first 12 electric trial buses will enter service this year.
The initiative aims to provide valuable insights into the challenges of converting a bus depot to battery electric technology, ahead of other depots being built or converted in the future. This plan will enable Victoria to meet its legislated commitment of net zero emissions by 2050, with the government pledging that all new buses will be zero emission-at-the-tailpipe from 2025.
