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

Luxemburg, Netherlands, Italy, and Poland) and the Americas (United States and
Canada).
In total twenty six (26) electric bus manufacturers were researched to develop
comparative product (fleet) profiles comprising of twenty (19) international and
seven (7) locally based manufacturers. To evaluate the companies that offer
electric buses, a number of essential factors were required to be met to first
shortlist companies for further evaluation. The essential factors included:
   Reputation of the company and tenure in the industry
   Proven electric bus technology with buses implemented in the field
   Availability to provide a vehicle for the 6-month trial expected in August 2015
   Ability to complete the electric bus route with an approximate range of 280 km
   per day (23 [email protected] km round trip)
   Proven right-hand drive vehicles to suit the Australian driving conditions which
   minimises the additional cost of customising the electric bus
   Easily able to provide the after sales support, parts replacement and training of
   drivers
   Compliance with Australian Standards in terms of vehicle specifications
   including Australian Design Rules (ADR) standards and Disability Discrimination
   Act requirements

Selection of the Preferred Electric Bus Solution

Using the above mentioned selection criterion, four (4) electric bus manufacturers
were shortlisted for further evaluation using a Multiple-Criteria Analysis (MCA)
approach as below:
   Solaris (Poland)

   BYD (through Carbridge an Australia largest aviation bus company with
   operations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth airports)
   Optare (through PATICO Automotive who are the Australian distributors for
   Optare headquartered in Dandenong, Melbourne and have been operating in
   Australia for 10 years)
   Olev (through Australian Electric Infrastructure Transport (AEIT) with an office
   located in Brisbane, Queensland. AEIT is a Brisbane based company
   established in 2012 to commercialise the Olev electric vehicles in Australia)
A Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) approach has been used to inform the selection of
the preferred electric bus manufacturer. The MCA results were presented at a
workshop with Council/TransLink on the 18 September 2014 and it was decided
that the top two (2) manufacturers (i.e. Optare and BYD) would be invited through
an expression of interest (EOI) to participate in a 6 month trial. More detailed
information was gathered through the EOI process to select a preferred
manufacturer.

Most Appropriate Solution for Noosa
The analysis conducted showed that Route 627 is most suitable for the electric bus
trial. The location for the proposed layover and fast recharging station is in Pelican
Street at Tewantin, next to Council’s office. This site is convenient for the western




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