2016-02-02 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              2 FEBRUARY 2016


6                        ELECTRIC BUS TRIAL UPDATE - JANUARY 2016
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                             Project Officer, Joanna Ferris
                                   Planning and Infrastructure Department

Index                              ECM\ Project\ TP000300
                                   ECM\ Subject\ Commercial Bus Routes
                                   ECM\ Subject\ Transport Levy

Attachments                        Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Project Officer to the Infrastructure & Services Committee
Meeting dated 2 February 2016 providing an update on the electric bus trial.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the electric bus trial following the termination
of the original trial that was scheduled to commence in February 2016 with Patico Automotive Pty
Ltd as the electric bus supplier.

1.                       Contract Termination

The electric bus lease agreement with Patico Automotive Pty Ltd was terminated in November
2015 due to the contractor being unable to meet the required delivery date. The buses were
manufactured in the UK however, following testing, delays occurred as a result of technical issues
with the air conditioning system.

As the supplier could not meet the delivery date specified in the lease agreement, it was mutually
agreed that the agreement be terminated, and this was finalised in January 2016.

2.                       Department of Transport and Main Roads Support

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TransLink) has confirmed that they remain
committed to the electric bus trial and will continue to support the trial as per the arrangements in
the existing Memorandum of Understanding.

TransLink are also supportive of the proposal to test the market on a satellite depot operation
based either at the Council Depot or a suitable site elsewhere in the Noosa area, subject to Sunbus’
support, and so long as it does not result in higher costs to the State during the trial.

This proposal has the benefit of reducing travel time from the current Marcoola depot thereby
increasing the range of the electric buses whilst servicing the route.

A further benefit of testing the market at this stage is that more electric bus manufacturers have
emerged since the original pre-feasibility study was undertaken in 2014. Additionally, battery
technology has improved which could mean greater range can now be achieved than previously.



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