Electric Buses

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verbatim9
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Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

It's an electric plan that would put Brisbane in the same company as London and Paris. From 2022 Brisbane City Council wants to start rolling out electric buses with the goal of a completely clean transport system. https://t.co/VZ3A1cpmr5 #7NEWS https://t.co/t4U5fUUjAC

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/statu ... 2747422720
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

This will be the biggest shake-up to transport on the Gold Coast since the light rail.

The plan for electric buses has been revealed in a special briefing to councillors today. @BrendonWolf9 #9News https://t.co/cMeXsngSVp

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/stat ... 0592768000
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

verbatim9 wrote:This will be the biggest shake-up to transport on the Gold Coast since the light rail.

The plan for electric buses has been revealed in a special briefing to councillors today. @BrendonWolf9 #9News https://t.co/cMeXsngSVp

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/stat ... 0592768000
Looks like they are investigating similar options to the Brisbane metro (electric bi articulated vehicles) but running East- West. This does make sense from a cost perspective. As long as they achieve the same frequency outcomes as Trams and operating hours. The buses will also need to have priority approach installed when approaching intersections, plus upgraded premium stops with security and real time information.
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

Couriermail.com.au (Quest)---->Brisbane City Council’s bus fleet could go fully electric
Brisbane City Council’s bus fleet could go fully electric
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the council is calling on bus builders to pitch plans to make its bus fleet zero emission. .

February 20, 2020 6:08pm

BRISBANE’S bus fleet could one day be fully electric with no tailpipe carbon emissions after the council called for tenders to future-proof the city’s buses.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council’s current bus building contract would run out in 2022 and it would “welcome plans for zero-emission bus options”.

He wanted future bidders to pitch long-term plans to transition the council’s bus fleet to cleaner power sources, like Paris, London and Amsterdam, which had already gone electric.

“It’s about environmental sustainability, about making sure we adapt to the changing climate and also keeping those running costs down as well, which is really important,” he said.

The value of the Brisbane City Council’s contract to build buses, which is held by Volgren, is commercial-in-confidence.

Meanwhile, the city’s first fully electric buses will be put on trial this year on the free City Loop service.


Brisbane Airport Corporation's Martin Ryan, Dr Jake Whitehead and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner take a spin through the CBD on one of the airport's electric buses. Picture: Ellen-Maree Elliot
The tenders for the trial on the free City Loop service closed last November and the successful candidate will be announced mid-this year.

“We know this technology works, it is being used elsewhere,” Cr Schrinner said.

“What we want to determine is the best routes to put these buses on and the City Loop trial will give us operating information so that we know which parts of the city would be best suited for electric buses.”

He said the cost for electric buses would be higher upfront and would need to include charging infrastructure, but would have were lower running costs than diesel buses.

Cr Schrinner said the council had 1200 buses in its fleet and replaced about 60 buses a year but that did not mean it would necessarily take 20 years to transition to a fully electric fleet.

He said there had been years where the council had replaced 100 or 125 buses while another factor was the life of the buses, which under TransLink is 20 years.

If that lifespan was reduced, which would be up to the State Government, that could also change how long it took to electrify the fleet.

The council’s Brisbane Metro vehicles will be fully electric and built by Volgren and Hess.

A Brisbane City Council bus pictured on Gympie Road, Kedron, Brisbane 9th of June 2019. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)
University of Queensland Tritium E-Mobility Fellow Dr Jake Whitehead said it was an exciting announcement that was “a longtime coming”.

“We should be moving towards a fully electrified fleet that will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also reduce transport costs for everyone that lives in the city,” he said.

“We’re already at a point where the total cost of ownership (of electric vehicles) is almost on parity with diesel and that’s only going to improve over the coming years.”

Dr Whitehead said the introduction of electric vehicles “open up a who range of new jobs”.

He said the city was home to the likes of Tritium whose electric vehicle fast-charging technology had been exported around the world.

“It’s certainly a great opportunity to support local businesses in deploying electric buses and electric vehicles more broadly,” he said.

Brisbane Airport Corporation executive general manager consumers Martin Ryan said the airport had run an electric fleet of12 buses for two years.

“The buses are incredibly quiet and are helping reduce 250 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, which equals 100 less cars on roads,” he said.

Labor Lord Mayoral candidate Patrick Condren said that having an electric fleet was “a good idea in this modern day and age”.

“I would also like to investigate the possibility of hydrogen, that’s the next tip for vehicles — hydrogen powered,” he said.
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boronia
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by boronia »

At least GC is calling them "buses", not silly names like "metro" or "trackless trams".
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verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

verbatim9 wrote:
verbatim9 wrote:This will be the biggest shake-up to transport on the Gold Coast since the light rail.

The plan for electric buses has been revealed in a special briefing to councillors today. @BrendonWolf9 #9News https://t.co/cMeXsngSVp

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/stat ... 0592768000
Looks like they are investigating similar options to the Brisbane metro (electric bi articulated vehicles) but running East- West. This does make sense from a cost perspective. As long as they achieve the same frequency outcomes as Trams and operating hours. The buses will also need to have priority approach installed when approaching intersections, plus upgraded premium stops with security and real time information.
From the artist's impression looks like a Mercedes all-electric eCitaro. Image

https://thedriven-io.cdn.ampproject.org ... z-buses%2F

Image
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

7 News Gold Coast story on the buses:

https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSGoldCoast/videos/council-announces-plans-to-introduce-electric-buses/2678237882274504/

The buses look to be the Mercedes eCitaro G models, which are only launching this year.

Image

Image

Image

Routes

Image

Image

Image
Megumi
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by Megumi »

verbatim9 wrote:
verbatim9 wrote:This will be the biggest shake-up to transport on the Gold Coast since the light rail.

The plan for electric buses has been revealed in a special briefing to councillors today. @BrendonWolf9 #9News https://t.co/cMeXsngSVp

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/stat ... 0592768000
Looks like they are investigating similar options to the Brisbane metro (electric bi articulated vehicles) but running East- West. This does make sense from a cost perspective. As long as they achieve the same frequency outcomes as Trams and operating hours. The buses will also need to have priority approach installed when approaching intersections, plus upgraded premium stops with security and real time information.
From the artist's impression looks like a Mercedes all-electric eCitaro. Image

https://thedriven-io.cdn.ampproject.org ... z-buses%2F

Image[/quote]

Is it possible that we can have e-Citaro?
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Daniel
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by Daniel »

Before we get carried away, wouldn’t pay too much attention to the artist’s impression...
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

Brisbanetimes --> Electric bus contract awarded for City Loop trial
An electric bus will be trialled on Brisbane's free City Loop bus route for a year after the council approved a contract this week.

Brisbane City Council public transport chairman Ryan Murphy said the $3 million contract was awarded to Yutong, trading as Vehicle Dealers International Pty Ltd.

"We know that Brisbane's current bus contract ends in 2022, and now is the time for Brisbane to start testing the waters for the transition to vehicles with a smaller footprint," he said.

"This new contract for the bus trial will continue our commitment to a cleaner and greener public transport fleet."

The trial was announced by lord mayor Adrian Schrinner in the 2020-21 budget and will complement the council's previous announcement that all future Brisbane Metro vehicles will be electric.

Cr Murphy said some of the benefits of switching to electric buses included zero tailpipe emissions, a quieter ride and the potential to save on operating costs while the vehicle remained in use.

There was also the potential to charge the vehicle through "green" power, he said.

The City Loop is serviced by diesel buses that run about 130 kilometres a day through the short CBD route.

The year-long trial will allow the council to establish how well the buses operate in Brisbane's climate, if there are any safety issues with pedestrians as the buses are so quiet and any other issues.

The contract could be extended for up to five years with more vehicles purchased.

Yutong Australia began importing buses from China in 2012.

"The tender process found there are, at the moment, no Australian electric buses that can operate and service our requirements and therefore we've had to source an electric bus from outside Australia," Cr Murphy said.

"However our officers have looked at companies that have a presence within Queensland and we believe this is a very fast-moving space and we will certainly be watching the local options."

The state government's public transport department, TransLink, and private operator Transdev have been developing their own electric bus trial.

That bus runs on 100 per cent solar power and will be tested on routes in Brisbane and the Redlands over the next two years, before being put into service as part of TransLink’s fleet.
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »


verbatim9 wrote:Brisbanetimes --> Electric bus contract awarded for City Loop trial
An electric bus will be trialled on Brisbane's free City Loop bus route for a year after the council approved a contract this week.

Brisbane City Council public transport chairman Ryan Murphy said the $3 million contract was awarded to Yutong, trading as Vehicle Dealers International Pty Ltd.

"We know that Brisbane's current bus contract ends in 2022, and now is the time for Brisbane to start testing the waters for the transition to vehicles with a smaller footprint," he said.

"This new contract for the bus trial will continue our commitment to a cleaner and greener public transport fleet."

The trial was announced by lord mayor Adrian Schrinner in the 2020-21 budget and will complement the council's previous announcement that all future Brisbane Metro vehicles will be electric.

Cr Murphy said some of the benefits of switching to electric buses included zero tailpipe emissions, a quieter ride and the potential to save on operating costs while the vehicle remained in use.

There was also the potential to charge the vehicle through "green" power, he said.

The City Loop is serviced by diesel buses that run about 130 kilometres a day through the short CBD route.

The year-long trial will allow the council to establish how well the buses operate in Brisbane's climate, if there are any safety issues with pedestrians as the buses are so quiet and any other issues.

The contract could be extended for up to five years with more vehicles purchased.

Yutong Australia began importing buses from China in 2012.

"The tender process found there are, at the moment, no Australian electric buses that can operate and service our requirements and therefore we've had to source an electric bus from outside Australia," Cr Murphy said.

"However our officers have looked at companies that have a presence within Queensland and we believe this is a very fast-moving space and we will certainly be watching the local options."

The state government's public transport department, TransLink, and private operator Transdev have been developing their own electric bus trial.

That bus runs on 100 per cent solar power and will be tested on routes in Brisbane and the Redlands over the next two years, before being put into service as part of TransLink’s fleet.
Likely to be similar to these---> Yutong, trading as Vehicle Dealers International Pty Ltd.
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385BUZ
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by 385BUZ »

Yutong.

You have got to be kidding me. Please tell me these buses are ONLY for the downtown loop...
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by Merc1107 »

Agreed. Especially considering there are vehicles in the pipeline made here.
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385BUZ
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by 385BUZ »

385BUZ wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 1:42 pm Yutong.

You have got to be kidding me. Please tell me these buses are ONLY for the downtown loop...
Merc1107 wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 4:30 pm Agreed. Especially considering there are vehicles in the pipeline made here.
I know right... Glad the depots i am serviced by (T and V) will be the last to get new buses if they do go down the yutong path!

Edit: I dont reckon BT be forever stuck with yutong though!!!!
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verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

Qld electric bus discussion---> New electric bus for Springhill loop
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

tonyp
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by tonyp »

Looks like a couple of parallel topics that could be merged here.

Ironically, the article is headed by a photo of a Yutong.
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by Megumi »

tonyp wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:28 pm Looks like a couple of parallel topics that could be merged here.

Ironically, the article is headed by a photo of a Yutong.
If I have to choose between them, I'd say the Yutong is better than the BYD as the whole solution is designed for the European market, while the BYD just offers some "core parts" and make other people do the rest of things.
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by tonyp »

Megumi wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 6:00 pm
If I have to choose between them, I'd say the Yutong is better than the BYD as the whole solution is designed for the European market, while the BYD just offers some "core parts" and make other people do the rest of things.
Lesser of two evils. Both chassis lose a row of seats at the back due to an over-large equipment cabinet at the back. Yutong has also put in a high floor at the back of the Australian model which is just mad. Alexander Dennis isn't going to to offer anything better - still low-entry only on the BYD chassis. Custom Denning Element and Volgren with the Volvo chassis are the clear design leaders on the local market, way ahead of anything else. It's a pity when we have the opportunity to start with a clean sheet with the best design features to tap into and instead we get flooded with junk and then, even worse, operators buy the junk instead of the best (cheaper perhaps?). :evil:
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by Megumi »

tonyp wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 10:11 am
Megumi wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 6:00 pm
If I have to choose between them, I'd say the Yutong is better than the BYD as the whole solution is designed for the European market, while the BYD just offers some "core parts" and make other people do the rest of things.
Lesser of two evils. Both chassis lose a row of seats at the back due to an over-large equipment cabinet at the back. Yutong has also put in a high floor at the back of the Australian model which is just mad. Alexander Dennis isn't going to to offer anything better - still low-entry only on the BYD chassis. Custom Denning Element and Volgren with the Volvo chassis are the clear design leaders on the local market, way ahead of anything else. It's a pity when we have the opportunity to start with a clean sheet with the best design features to tap into and instead we get flooded with junk and then, even worse, operators buy the junk instead of the best (cheaper perhaps?). :evil:
For those bus companies, running reliability is their first priority, instead of the minor capacity difference. We're in Australia, not Hong Kong where is capacity sensitive.
But I'm going to share with you good news, as the Ebusco is about to land in Australia this year with a fully low-floor. A third door that is fitted behind the rear axle is possible to opt for. However, many bus companies in Australia may ask the manufacturer to change the low floor to "low-entry" to fit their purpose, even if the low-floor design may be standardised.

https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-new ... k-end-2021
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by tonyp »

I'm familiar with the Ebusco. I don't think that they've built a RHD bus and everything depends on what's possible when everything is swapped over. If the motor and drivetrain can't be swapped to the other side, there won't be a possibility of a third door. Ebusco does both low floor and low entry versions, so it's anybody's guess what we''ll see here. I believe this venture is in conjunction with Bustech, so maybe it will replace whatever Bustech had in the pipeline for development of the ZDi?

Don't assume yet about the running reliability of the Custom Denning and the Volgren Volvo. They'll probably turn out very good and will last longer than the Chinese buses which aren't built for a long life. Capacity and functionality may not matter in Brisbane, but they do in Sydney.
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

Top 10 electric urban buses


https://youtu.be/jghNvTW6zqE
verbatim9
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by verbatim9 »

The ebusco looks great. It's not the top rated but the overall design and range is impressive.
tonyp
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Re: Electric Buses

Post by tonyp »

verbatim9 wrote: Fri Aug 20, 2021 3:44 pm The ebusco looks great. It's not the top rated but the overall design and range is impressive.
That video is a very limited American perspective, not based on a sound knowledge base nor reflecting the reality of the international market as some of the comments note. Not the "top ten" by any means.
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