Volgren makes first two electric buses for Kinetic order

The first two electric buses have come off the line at Volgren’s Dandenong South factory, with these to be delivered under a contract scheduled to bring 36 of the company’s battery electric buses (BEBs) and over 100 hybrid buses into service in Melbourne by mid-2025.

The buses are for operator Kinetic, which was awarded a 9.5-year, $2.3 billion contract last year by the Victorian government for the Metropolitan Bus Franchise. The franchise covers about a third of Melbourne’s public bus transport network.

According to the Victorian government, the two buses would enter service “over the next few weeks” and be used on 11 routes in the western suburbs, starting with the 223 from Yarraville to Highpoint Shopping Centre.

Five Volgren BEBs are expected to be introduced by June.

State public transport minister Ben Carroll said 78 electric buses in total were expected in the Victorian public transport system by 2025.

“It’s not only good for the environment, it’s good for industry and the local economy with over 50 new jobs to be created at Volgren in Dandenong,” said Carroll.

The new buses sport a design based on a state-wide poll, participated in by thousands.

Volgren said in November that it expected the Kinetic Metropolitan Bus Franchise order to create 50 new jobs.

Picture: volgren.com.au

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