AUCKLAND
Kinetic, the largest bus operator in New Zealand and Australia, is developing a third and fully electric bus depot in New Zealand at a site in Glenfield.
The new facility, set to be operational by 2025, will house 16 chargers and accommodate 31 electric buses, bolstering Kinetic’s commitment to sustainable public transport.
This development comes as an addition to Kinetics’ pioneering electric bus depots in Panmure, New Zealand’s first fully electric facility, and New Lynn, the largest in Australasia.
Kinetic has partnered with project manager TMX Transform on the electrification of its bus fleet throughout New Zealand.
“Our partnership with TMX who has managed the electrification of each depot including the selection and appointment of contractors, the provision of quality and cost assurance, and managing the site day-to-day so bus services could operate without disruption, has required an in-depth knowledge of how depots operate, attention to detail, and communication between contractors and depot staff.” says Ian Gordon, Kinetic New Zealand’s Director of Infrastructure.
Combined, Kinetic and TMX can now lay claim to a huge amount of intellectual property in electrifying bus depots.
The three sites together (Glenfield, Panmure, and New Lynn) will service a fleet of 152 electric buses when complete.
“The partnership with Kinetic demonstrates how an infrastructure transition to a net zero future involves learning as we go along, rather than having answers up front”, says Adam McDonald, TMX Transform’s Head of Operations.
Glenfield is the third fully electric bus depot we are delivering for Kinetic, and the longevity of our relationship means we have developed a shared specialist understanding, knowledge, and collective expertise, that we take from one site into the next.
“Kinetic’s transformation of their zero-emissions bus fleet is contributing to a net-zero future in New Zealand.”
Modelling suggests that up to 550,000 light passenger and light commercial electric vehicles (EVs) will be operating on New Zealand roads by 2030, according to the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA)1.
New Zealand’s government has called for the full decarbonisation of the country’s urban buses by 2035.
This story was written by Mannat Chawla and was originally published by MHD Supply Chain on July 9, 2024.