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

6.   Developing the most appropriate
     solution for Noosa
     6.1      Preferred operating environment for Noosa
     The development of an appropriate solution for Noosa has focused on the selection of a
     suitable electric bus route, storage and layover location, slow and fast charging station
     locations, maintenance facility and a preferred manufacturer.
     Route 627 is recommended for the electric bus trial because:
        It is an existing route that already services the busy tourist and visitor precincts connecting
         Tewantin, Noosa Heads and Noosa Junction with no requirement for the rest of the
         TransLink bus network to be modified. Community consultation on the route is not
         required as the existing route, bus stops and service frequencies are not affected
        It is the shortest route with less daily service kilometres compared to Route 626 and it
         would be easier to implement with a lesser impact on driver shifts and rosters
        It has a 30 minute running time with a 60 minute circuit time, and it terminates at the
         western end at Tewantin Central (next to the Council office) and at Sunshine Beach at the
         eastern end, not in suburban streets
        It requires only two (2) electric buses and (1) one diesel bus on a 30 minute frequency. As
         the technology is unproven, it is recommended that at least one existing Sunbus diesel
         bus be on stand-by at Noosa Junction bus stations, should there be any breakdowns of
         the electric bus

        It operates over a mixture of operating environments, street types and terrains to test the
         physical capability and range of the electric bus
        It provides multiple locations for potential recharging stations and is easier for an electric
         bus supplier to trial a vehicle than with multiple routes
     The average gradient of Route 627 is between 2.4% to 2.5% with the steepest sections at
     12% as per the Google Earth elevation profile below. The electric bus has the capability to
     negotiate these gradients.




     Google Earth elevation profile of Route 627

     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 terminus of Route
     627 to use and has minimal impact on parking with approximately three (3) car park spaces
     to be removed in Pelican Street.
     Overnight storage and slow charging for the electric bus could be undertaken at the existing
     Sunbus depot (Beech Street) at Marcoola, which is approximately 30 km south of the
     eastern terminus (start point of Route 627) at Sunshine Beach. The Marcoola location is
     preferred because it is an existing secure fenced facility with surveillance systems and it will



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