Latest news with #Volgren
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Electric buses to hit the streets in Perth's north
Electric buses will soon be hitting the streets of the northern suburbs after a $12.3 million update of the Karrinyup bus depot. The depot will be retrofitted to include EV charging equipment, substation upgrades, CCTV upgrades and other works. The depot will be able to support 110 electric buses once the works are completed, which is expected by the end of the year. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The first electric bus is expected to be delivered to the depot in early 2026, which will also be the first to operate outside of the CBD. Each electric bus has the capability to travel up to 300km on a single charge, saving about 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. The Karrinyup bus depot will be the second major Transperth facility to be upgraded with the charging infrastructure after the installation of bus chargers at the Elizabeth Quay bus station last year. The redevelopment is part of the State Government's $250m electric bus program, which will initially have 130 EV buses replacing their existing diesel counterparts. The program has been jointly funded between the State and Federal governments. The Malaga and Bayswater depots are also being prepared for electric vehicles. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said depots needed to have the infrastructure to keep the electric fleet running efficiently and effectively. Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti. Credit: Supplied 'It is imperative our bus depots incorporate EV infrastructure so that the transition from a diesel-heavy fleet to one that includes cleaner, greener buses happens as smoothly as possible,' she said. Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey said he was thrilled the area was among the first outside the CBD to get access to electric buses. 'We made a commitment to phasing out diesel buses from our network, and the delivery of new electric charging infrastructure at our depots is critical to achieving that,' he said. The last diesel bus manufactured for public transport in WA rolled out last week. All new buses made by Volgren will now be electric. More than 100 people, including 15 apprentices, work at Volgren's Malaga facility. Premier Roger Cook said building buses locally was part of the Government's vision for WA's future. 'It won't just create more than 100 jobs in Perth's north-eastern suburbs — it will lower our emissions and reduce operating costs across Perth's public transport network too,' he said.
The Age
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
Perth public transport: Why are WA's diesel buses about to go extinct?
The last diesel Transperth bus will enter service on Wednesday, marking the advent of electric buses that will slowly replace the entire 1800-strong fleet over the next two decades. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Premier Roger Cook toured the final bus 'TP3608' at the Volgren bus manufacturing facility in Malaga on Wednesday morning. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti in the last ever diesel bus to be manufactured in WA - TP3608. Credit: Hamish Hastie About 18 electric buses are already travelling routes in the Perth CBD and Joondalup, where depots have been geared up for their charging requirements. The next tranche of buses will head to suburban routes, with charging infrastructure soon to be complete at the Malaga depot.
