Metlink is introducing 16 new electric buses to its fleet, bringing the total number of electric buses in operation to 119.
The new buses, owned by operator Kinetic, will replace 10 older diesel models and support growing demand on busy routes in the Wellington Region.
With this investment, 25% of the Metlink bus fleet will operate using fully electric drives.
The aim is for all 16 buses to be in service by the end of April, making a noticeable difference to noise and pollution, as we continue to drive down our carbon emissions and work towards the electrification of all core bus routes by 2030.
Despite funding challenges, Metlink recorded 2.6 million bus trips in March, a 2.6% increase compared to March 2024. Bus service reliability reached 99.7% for the month.
The new buses will now support upcoming timetable changes designed to improve efficiency based on regular analysis of passenger data.
