Article contribution: insidelocalgovernment.com.au
The ACT Government is kicking off the transition to zero emissions public transport with the release of a tender for leasing the territory’s first electric buses.
The move will see the highest emitting Renault buses retired from the fleet as a first step towards cutting emissions from public transport.
The leasing arrangement will cover a total of 34 buses and procurement will be assessed based on providers’ ability to deliver buses with enhanced accessibility, lower emissions operations, and associated charging infrastructure.
The procurement will see an initial eight zero emission buses added to the fleet as a minimum, with the opportunity for industry to offer more depending on market capacity.
Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel said the procurement was an important step forward in the transition towards zero emissions public transport, ahead of the Government’s permanent procurement of 90 zero emissions buses which is currently at the market sounding stage.
“These leasing arrangements will ensure we are able to retire the oldest diesel clunkers from our fleet as soon as possible and get on with rolling out smoother, quieter and more comfortable zero emissions buses,” Minister Steel said.
“We recognise that the ACT Government has to take action to cut our own transport emissions alongside working to help Canberrans cut those from the private vehicle fleet.
“This is a transition we want to make as rapidly as possible in light of evolving technology and a growing number of suppliers in the market.”
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