BusTech delivers hybrid buses

Locally manufactured hybrid school buses will soon be on the roads in South Australia with bus manufacturer BusTech beginning delivery of 20 new school buses, including 17 hybrid-electric, to meet increased demands on school bus routes.

With a hybrid chassis provided by Scania and the body manufactured by BusTech at its facility in Adelaide, the 20 new school buses will be celebrated today at Unley High School with transport minister Corey Wingard.

Wingard said: “We want to provide the next generation of school students with a cleaner and greener public transport experience, especially as Year 7 transitions into public high schools from next year.”

“As an added bonus, our adoption of the Scania Hybrid for the Adelaide Metro fleet…has led to an increase in the number of employees at BusTech dedicated to bus body building.”

BusTech executive chairman Christian Reynolds said the company was working closely with state governments and operators to transition diesel fleets to lower-emission and ultimately zero-emission solutions.

“These new hybrid-battery buses built in Adelaide for Adelaide are an important step in achieving cleaner and more sustainable public transport options for South Australians.”

The first three of the new hybrid buses have already rolled off the production line with the remainder, including three articulated buses, to be delivered by the end of 2021.

Late last year BusTech delivered two hybrid-electric buses, built in partnership with Scania, to service the South Australian O-Bahn guided busway network (pictured).

The hybrid buses can switch to electric drive when idled at bus stops or in school zones.

When these buses are in electric mode, they do not produce any tailpipe emissions.

The batteries recharge whilst driving, allowing buses to automatically alternate between electric and diesel modes.

Picture: BusTech

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