2015-04-07 Item 2 - Attachment 1 - Pre feasibility Study of Electric Bus Routes

   A single electric bus would operate through the busy tourist and visitor precinct in Noosa
   with 1 in 5 trips (as the existing Routes 626 and 627 require five (5) buses)
   A high frequency of every 15 minutes exists between Tewantin and Noosa Junction via
   Noosa Heads increasing the visibility for the general public if multiple electric buses are
   available in the trial
   By trialling the electric bus on both Routes 626 and 627, a variety of street types with
   roundabouts and terrains will be traversed providing a rigorous test of the electric bus
   Recharging stations could be installed at multiple locations along the route at the Council
   office in Tewantin, and at the bus stations at Noosa Heads and Noosa Junction
   New timetables would not need to be printed, saving on the implementation cost. Only a
   promotional flyer would be required
   No bus network changes are required after the trial if the electric bus is not continued after
   the trial period
   No community consultation on route changes is needed
   Bus drivers do not need to be trained on new routes; only the use of the electric bus

Disadvantages

   The electric bus operating on multiple routes makes it less legible for the public and
   harder to have a recognisable service brand and livery
   Routes 626 and 627 are currently interlined with other TransLink routes which has a
   greater impact on the driver shifts and rosters

3.2.3      Option 3 – Only use Route 627

Option 3 is to only use Route 627 for the electric bus trial with no changes to the TransLink
bus network or timetables.

Advantages

   A single route makes it easier to inform customers which route will have the electric bus
   Route 627 has a mixture of street types with roundabouts and terrains to provide a
   rigorous test of the electric bus, including the local streets in Sunshine Beach
   Route 627 services the busy tourist areas between Tewantin, Noosa Heads and Noosa
   Junction
   Recharging stations could be installed at multiple locations along the route at the Council
   office in Tewantin, and at the bus stations at Noosa Heads and Noosa Junction
   New timetables would not need to be printed, saving on the implementation cost. Only a
   promotional flyer would be required
   No bus network changes are required after the trial if the electric bus is not continued to
   be operated after the trial period
   No community consultation is required for the bus route changes
   Easy to implement with no changes to timetables or public information
   With 30 minute headway on a 60 minute circuit time, two (2) electric buses and one (1)
   diesel bus would be adequate to allow recovery time to recharge, driver breaks and to
   ensure service reliability
   Bus drivers do not need to be trained on new routes; only the use of the electric bus



14 | GHD | Proposal for Noosa Council & TransLink Division - Planning Report