To help achieve New Zealand’s net-zero emissions target by 2050, its Ministry of Transport has announced in January 2021 that it will decarbonise its public transport bus fleet by 2025.
It also targets 2035 as the year that it decarbonise entirely all public transport buses, which means that the government will start to purchase zero-emission public transport buses or electric buses as soon as possible.
To encourage New Zealand councils to transition to electric buses, the government sets up a $50 million fund in the next four years to achieve this outcome.
In 2019, Auckland Transport successfully trialled two giant electric buses, built by Yutong and specially customised for New Zealand requirements. The buses can carry up to 78 passengers.
The result of these trials has boosted operational confidence in electric bus fleets, according to Auckland Council.
Public transport covers an average of 100 to 150 kilometres each day. The current battery technology is more than enough to support this travel distance and will only improve in the coming years.
NZ Local Government Magazine reports that councils in New Zealand have started purchasing electric buses for public transport in their communities. Erich Livengood, managing director of Electric autobus, says that soon 100 buses will service council roads.
He added that although electric buses cost higher than their diesel counterparts, the total ownership cost for electric buses is the same or even lower than diesel, adding that EVs also offers environmental and health advantages.
However, councils also require bus companies to make a long-term investment in charging infrastructure. Not only is it expensive, but it is a barrier to the widespread uptake of electric buses because charging infrastructure can last up to 30 years.
Yet, bus contracts may only last up to nine years – an investment that they will need to write down quickly in case they lose the contract.
Livengood adds that in China, where the uptake of electric buses is high, charging infrastructure is built and managed independently by specialist power supplies.
New Zealand Government provides funds to transition to electrification of public transport.
As mentioned earlier, the government has set up a $50 million fund to speed up the councils’ uptake of electric buses, an outcome they project to be achieved over four years. Part of the fund will be spent overcoming barriers and speeding up decarbonisation in the most economically efficient way.
New Zealand’s move to electrify its public transport will create new infrastructures and spaces to accommodate these changes.
These new assets and infrastructure will require some form of asset management and maintenance to ensure that these assets continue to provide quality service and meet their target outcomes (reduce emissions) and protect public investment.
PHOTO CREDIT: Auckland Transport
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