NSW Electric Bus Plan

[alleve]

The Tempe Oranas are rarely ever seen, I've caught them maybe 3 times in the last 6 months, and they usually only make it out at school times. I would say maybe 2/3 to 3/4 of the time I catch the bus it's an Optimus. I'm not sure if I'm lucky, or if Transit Systems has some positive bias towards the 476/477. Interesting point about operators not being able to buy new buses, I didn't think about that. One would hope that the new minister allows artics again and pushes for hybrids in the regional areas.

The Tempe Oranas operate every weekday. Some examples: At 1pm today there were 5 of the 11 out in service across the 303, 308, 422 and 430. Last Friday at between 4pm and 5pm I got photos of 6 of the 11 passing Sydenham Station on 358, 418 and 430 trips. I see them out in service on the 303/348/358 going past UNSW, and it would be an oddity if there wasn't at least a few Orana operated trips throughout the day.

Perhaps the longer shift lengths or the all day shifts with breaks at Rockdale Meal Room on the Bayside runs (476/7/8/9) are more suited to newer buses.

Tempe certainly isn't the focus on electrifying either. Kingsgrove has just gone electric with the delivery of the first Element there today (although there would be around 20 of them awaiting entry to service at AMD). Burwood is next.

That would make sense as to why I don't see them much, I catch the 47_ routes more than I do the 303, 358, 422.

I don't recall Burwood being part of the Government's plan. Are you sure they're next?

[Fleet Lists]

Tempe certainly isn't the focus on electrifying either. Kingsgrove has just gone electric with the delivery of the first Element there today (although there would be around 20 of them awaiting entry to service at AMD). Burwood is next.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-a ... -new-fleet makes no mention of Burwood.

The key conversions will occur at bus depots in Leichhardt, Tempe, South Granville, Kingsgrove, Menai, Taren Point, Port Botany, Willoughby, Randwick, North Sydney and Brookvale.

Surely not the whole of Transit Systems is going to be done before any other operator is looked at.

We are probably getting off subject as this relates more the Electric Bus Plan, and has nothing to do with the election.

EDIT - It has now been moved.

[boronia]

Cost of new motorway under Sydney Harbour blows out by $1.4 billion

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cos ... 5cz4b.html

Interesting to note the comment

They show the previous Coalition government plugged the $1.4 billion gap for the three-lane motorway tunnels last year by taking on extra debt and reallocating some funding from other projects, including WestConnex, the Princes Highway upgrade and a program to electrify the state’s bus fleet.

[Swift]

I came across this on EVs. If we're going to go head long into this idea, we better be more choosy.
https://youtu.be/yOA7qKMcjcE

[moa999]

Interesting also no mention of Waverley in that funding plan.

That depot still seems to only get one or two of their (ten) Elements out on a daily basis according to anytrip.

-

Immediately above that sepenteza video is a bit suspect. In a country as big as China you will get a few car fires.
The guy started as a fairly popular travel blogger YouTuber covering China (he's married to a Chinese woman) but showed stuff warts and all.
And seemingly got blacklisted and basically forced out of the country.

Since then his videos have become very clickbaity and negative on China.
While no doubt some issues with the recent models he focused on, he doesn't seem to have anything on the far more popular models like BYD buses, the e6 taxies or the Atto 3 (Yuan Plus in China)

[Stonesourscotty]

First of 6? Yutongs are at Penrith Depot oddly appear to be an older 2021 build date. Some of the Elements are still devoid of busways information

[MotorOmnibus8562]

They may have been originally ordered by Interline but the order got cancelled and then were bought by busways

[tonyp]

They may have been originally ordered by Interline but the order got cancelled and then were bought by busways

That's a disappointing backward step for Busways but I guess somebody ends up taking the Yutongs one way or another.

[Swift]

It's a further step up in a smooth experience for the rider after Busways went with Voith after being a ZF adherent for so long. They have "regressed" with their latest purchases of Mercs but the Ecolife is supposed to be a great improvement over the Ecomat's jerkiness in some applications.
I hope "the coast" gets some EVs eventually.

[boronia]

They would have been bought by TfNSW, perhaps initially FOR Interline, but subsequently redirected to Busways?

[MotorOmnibus8562]

Gotta replace the remaining Custom O405s to stop them from running public services and the failed Orana B10BLEs with some newer buses
Doesn't Busways have more Elements on the way for Region 7?.

[Fleet Lists]

Gotta replace the remaining Custom O405s to stop them from running public services and the failed Orana B10BLEs with some newer buses

I think nearly every Sydney operator is in that situation with very few new buses being delivered.

[MotorOmnibus8562]

I heard somewhere that TfNSW is trying to review their Bus procurement panel for Zero Emissions buses, considering that a lot more zero-emissions buses are available on the market.

Dated August 2021 are the zero-emissions buses allowed to be purchased by NSW Operators:
Bus and Coach International - BCI Citrider EV
Nexport Pty Ltd - Gemilang (BYD Chassis)
Volgren Australia - Volgren (BYD chassis)
Bustech Pty Ltd - ZDI
Custom Bus Group Australia Pty Ltd - Custom Denning Element EV
Optare Tempo 11.5m
Yutong Australia - Yutong E12

Source:
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system ... t%2021.pdf

They really need to update the panel so more options are allowed to be purchased. Such as the Volvo BZL, Three Volvo BZLs are already in service in Victoria with four more in WA, all with Volgren Bodies and there is one more being demonstrated with an Express body in NSW too.

MO8562

[Linto63]

I wouldn't take that as necessarily being up to date. Operators have access to a portal and that may well have been updated. If Volvo et al are seeking to make sales in NSW, they would proactively be pushing to have the products added to the list.

[Fleet Lists]

I would have thought that such a review would have have been an ongoing process in the current environment.

The fact that it is dated August 2021 makes me think that it would be an out of date version.

[tonyp]

I would have thought that such a review would have have been an ongoing process in the current environment.

The fact that it is dated August 2021 makes me think that it would be an out of date version.

The Panel was supposed to be reviewed this year, under the previous government.

[Swift]

Is the power bill to charge the buses working out to be substantial savings over diesel?

[Stonesourscotty]

Is the power bill to charge the buses working out to be substantial savings over diesel?

Penrith has a large amount of Solar Panels on the depot roof

[tonyp]

Penrith has a large amount of Solar Panels on the depot roof

Perfect for overnight charging.

[boronia]

Is the power bill to charge the buses working out to be substantial savings over diesel?

Penrith has a large amount of Solar Panels on the depot roof

If they are feeding this back into the grid, their power bills could be negligible.

[Merc1107]

Penrith has a large amount of Solar Panels on the depot roof

If they are feeding this back into the grid, their power bills could be negligible.

As the fleet of electrics grows, that may return may diminish if they have to recharge batteries to charge buses overnight.

[tonyp]

If they are feeding this back into the grid, their power bills could be negligible.

The feed-in rate nowadays is pathetic, unless they secured some commercial deal.

[Stonesourscotty]

Any idea when the Yutongs enter service at Penrith and why one is numbered in the Normal buses series rather than as an electric?

[MotorOmnibus8562]

Likely part of the new contract where all new purchases have to be zero emissions (except second-hand purchases due to the current circumstances) and that Busways has finalised it's fleet numbering for the recent takeovers of STA + orders for Gosford and regional Operations.

[Fleet Lists]

why one is numbered in the Normal buses series rather than as an electric?

5015 and 5017? Both electric numbers?