The first electric bus in the new 18-vehicle CAT fleet will be on Perth roads this week, with the Malaga depot to receive an upgrade as part of a $250 million plan.
The first electric bus in the new 18-vehicle CAT fleet will be on Perth roads this week, with the Malaga depot to receive an upgrade as part of a $250 million plan.
The state and federal governments committed $125 million each towards the acquistion of 130 locally manufactured electric buses, as part of electric bus network to be rolled out in Western Australia.
Under the proposed network, 18 electric buses will be rolled out for the CAT routes in Perth with 18 EV charging stations already built at Elizabeth Quay bus station.
The remaining buses for the CAT routes are expected to be operating by July next year, Business News understands.
L-R: Transperth system executive director Peter Jones, Catherine King and Rita Saffioti in the new electric CAT bus. Photo: Michael O'Brien
Unveiling the first electric bus set to be used for the Green CAT network this week, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said Transperth's EV fleet has grown exponentially in just two years.
“What started out as four buses is now a commitment to provide 130 locally built electric buses to be rolled out over the next two years," she said.
"As this program continues to expand, we must ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support the day-to-day running of these buses, and upgrades to existing depots such as the one in Malaga are essential to the smooth and efficient operation of the electric bus fleet now and into the future.”
Civcon Civil & Project Management and Welshpool-based Gemtek have been awarded the contracts to extend and realign the bus parking area and install EV charging equipment at Malaga bus depot, valued at $12 million.
The Malaga bus depot will be the first in the state to receive major upgrades to support a large electric bus fleet, including the capacity to fully charge 90 buses overnight.
One of the 18 charging stations at Elizabeth Quay bus station. Photo: Michael O'Brien
The proposed work comes after a partial upgrade to the Joondalup depot in 2022, as part of a trial of four electric buses.
Ms Saffioti said the test in Joondalup gave information on the lasting power of the electric bus once charged and the charging station infrastructure.
"We did all that testing, and now we're rolling out the program, and that meant converting the Volgren facility in Malaga to now manufacture electric buses as well as diesel buses," she said.
"One of the key things with rolling out electric vehicles and electric buses in particular, is having the charging infrastructure.
"We had a planned rollout starting here at EQ and now going to Malaga with a new contract award, and Malaga will then be home to the first set of electric buses for the normal network, the non CAT buses, and then we'll continually invest as part of our bus program."
Federal Infrastructure and Transport MInister Catherine King said the government's pursuit of an electric bus network was critical for the country's transition to net zero.
“The retrofitting of Malaga Bus Depot – which will be the first of many to be rolled out under this program – will deliver zero-emission public transport services for commuters now while supporting the growth of the WA capital," she said.
“This means a more effective transport system, better outcomes for passengers, and lower noise levels and exhaust fumes in urban areas.”
Ms King said WA remained in the lead in the country's planned transition to electric vehicles for the public transport system.
"In New South Wales, we've put some investment into their new Macquarie bus depot, which we're helping them build," she said.
"Hobart and South Australia have also just got some money recently in the budget to look at their transport systems to do something similar but really WA was the first."
