Canberra, the capital city of Australia, has made a significant stride towards sustainable transportation with the procurement of 94 electric buses. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has placed an order for 90 buses from Yutong, a renowned Chinese manufacturer, specifically opting for their E12 model. The remaining four buses will be provided by Custom Denning, featuring their Element model.
This remarkable purchase marks the largest acquisition of electric buses in Canberra’s history, bolstering their fleet with 106 zero-emission buses in total. According to the official ACT website, Canberra’s buses cover an average distance of 300 kilometers per day and operate for approximately 11 hours daily. Notably, the initial batch of 12 buses was introduced into service last year and was also supplied by the aforementioned manufacturers.
The Yutong E12 buses are 12 meters long and have a seating capacity of up to 70 passengers. Equipped with 16 lithium-ion batteries boasting a combined capacity of 295 kWh, nine of these batteries are situated at the rear of the bus, while the remaining seven are mounted on the roof.
On the other hand, the Custom Denning Element model can accommodate up to 45 passengers and features a battery with an impressive total capacity of 378 kWh. According to the manufacturer, this capacity enables the bus to travel up to 500 kilometers on a single charge.
The decision to introduce electric buses to Canberra was made by the ACT government in late 2020, reflecting their commitment to a greener future. With a target of achieving an entirely electric bus fleet by 2040, Canberra is taking substantial steps towards reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable transportation options for its residents. The delivery of the first electric bus is expected later this year, while the remaining buses will gradually join the city’s fleet by 2026.
