The bus commuters of inner western Sydney could soon new listening to the sounds of silence and we don’t mean Simon and Garfunkel!
The Transit Systems run Leichardt Bus depot will have at least one and possibly two route buses running on routes in the next few weeks with a Gemilang bodied BYD EV route bus set to start trials on 1 July and a Yutong EV route bus due to arrive around the end of July or early August.
The Gemilang BYD unit has been in Australia for the last few weeks. being prepared for the trial. with the fitment of Opal card readers and other necessary equipment while we believe the Yutong machine is yet to arrive but is on its way. The two different pure electric buses are set to go head to head in the trial with a new will to try zero emission public transport options by Transport for NSW through its private fleet partner Transit Systems.
Truck and Bus News has been hearing rumours about the trials of the two buses for the past month or so but when we asked for comment or a quote from various relevant PRs all have refused to comment, but none denied the trials will be starting soon.
It is believed an announcement is due to be made by Transport for NSW either on Wednesday 26th or on Thursday 27th June.
Yutong is already involved in an EV trial in NSW with one of its buses being used by Premier out of its Nowra base on a daily regular public transport route from Kiama to Bombadery station at Nowra. Reports are the trial has been extremely successful with the bus covering around 290 km per day over a 15 hour shift, returning to the depot with 45 per cent charge remaining in its batteries. Yutong claims it could easily deliver 350km between charges depending on charge while Nowra operation has seen the electric bus reduce daily running costs by 72 per cent compared with equivalent diesel buses.
Truck and Bus News will report on any official announcements on the imminent electric bus trial over the coming days.
