On 15 December 2022, the Andrews Labor Government announced the successful launch of Australia's first offsite electric bus charging station, alongside the introduction of the first of eight electric buses in Melbourne's southeast. These initiatives are part of the Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) trial, which aims to convert the state's public transport fleet of approximately 4,000 diesel buses to zero emissions, with all new public transport buses in Victoria to be zero emissions by 2025.
Bus operator ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) has taken delivery of the first of eight electric buses that will operate on Route 601 during the week and Route 630 at weekends. These busy routes connect thousands of students and staff at Monash University's Clayton campus with Huntingdale, Gardenvale and Ormond train stations.
As part of the trial, the first off-route charging station has been installed at Monash University's Clayton campus bus interchange. This will allow the electric buses to be charged during their daily operations, enabling them to remain in service longer on these busy routes and providing important data for the trial. Charging points have also been installed at CDC's Oakleigh depot, where the eight electric buses will be based.
The ZEB trial will run for three years and involve 52 zero-emission buses, including 50 electric buses and two hydrogen fuel cell buses. Six bus operators across Victoria will participate in the trial, and data collected from the vehicles will provide practical information on how zero-emission buses perform and their energy and charging requirements for different types of routes. This data will provide insights into how the buses can improve financial and environmental sustainability.
The ZEB trial fosters partnerships between local industries, such as energy providers and manufacturers, which will be critical to the transition of the state's public transport fleet to zero emissions. Most of the trial's electric bus bodies will be built at Volgren's Dandenong South manufacturing facility in Victoria, supporting local jobs and injecting money into the local economy.
Victoria's Bus Plan aims to deliver a modern and reliable network that attracts more passengers, with a greener fleet critical to the Labor Government's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2045.