Australasian Bus & Coach 408 August 2021

ABC

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

BUSWAYS WINS SYDNEY REGION 7 ADELAIDE O-BAHN ARTICULATED BUS TRIALS UNDERWAY NSW AUD$15 MILLION ‘GREEN HYDROGEN’ PLANT SOON ISSUE 408 August 2021 $5.95 inc GST

LICKETY SPLIT

MARCOPOLO’S EXUBERANTLY STYLISH G8 SUPER COACH DEBUTS

operator: kerton investments, vic interview: michel van maanen guide: e-bus in oz, 2021

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Reliability, That’s ready now

New stock units available for immediate delivery!

The Volvo B8R Euro 5, Volvo B8R Euro 6, and Volvo B11R Euro 5 chassis, fitted with a selection of Volgren, Marcopolo, Irizar, Custom and Coach Concept bodies, are priced to sell and ready for delivery.

Volvo School, Coach & Charter www.volvobuses.com

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Call your local Volvo representative for more information today.

NSW QLD, NT VIC, SA, TAS WA

Ray Andrich - 0418 213 320 Stuart Woodward - 0406 465 301 Leonie Conyers - 0436 912 354 Anthony Fisicaro - 0418 365 356 Adrian Boevé - 0488 902 205

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contents ISSUE 408 AUGUST 2021

08 in the know

6. editorial | ignition More lockdowns all around – now this is just getting scary and weird. Editor Cotter talks bus impact and more.

8. news | the front line We’ve gathered up all the key, hardhitting Australasian and international bus and coach news for you, to keep you in the loop.

20. bic column

NAVIGATING CHANGE Ongoing change in the industry can reveal new opportunities.

in focus

24. In focus | volvo-zf partnership

VOLVO-ZF BUS PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATED Innovation, safety and reliability underwrite Volvo Bus and ZF’s decades-long partnership in producing a gamut of quality buses together for the Australian market.

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26. In focus | torrens transit iso

SOUTH OZ BUS OPERATOR RETAINS KEY ISO CERTIFICATIONS Transit Systems’ South Australia-based bus and public transport operator Torrens Transit has successfully retained independently audited ISO certifications for a raft of crucial management systems.

tourism’s challenge is to woo them back in droves – as well as newcomers en masse. To do so, and if first impressions count, then Marcopolo’s new G8 super coach has all the calculations covered. Fabian Cotter writes.

28. In focus | truegreen ev funding

TRUEGREEN SECURES E-BUS FUNDING

Australian ‘clean tech’ investor TrueGreen – whose portfolio includes electric bus transport and technology group Nexport Mobility – has successfully secured $110 million to advance its e-bus and EV making capability nationwide.

32. coverstory | marcopolo g8

SUPER 8

Regular coach passengers worldwide might have used that transport mode out of pure necessity, habit, or simply personal choice. Post-pandemic, coach

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EDITORIAL Editor: Fabian Cotter ph: 0451 194 600 e-mail: Fabian.Cotter@primecreative.com.au Technical Writer: Paul Aldridge

PRODUCTION

FOLLOW US ONLINE AT:

Production Co-Ordinator: Cat Fitzpatrick Art Director: Bea Barthelson

Facebook – facebook.com/ABCBusnews YouTube – bit.ly/busandcoachtv Twitter – twitter.com/ABCmag

PRINTING IVE Print

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager: Matt Alexander ph: 0413 599 669

40. operator profile | kerton investments

e-mail: Matt.Alexander@primecreative.com.au Trader Group Sales Manager:

DRIVIN’ THE DREAM

James Rock

Trevor Kerton runs a small school operator service in East Gippsland.

Coming from a farming background, Kerton’s move into the bus industry was a decision made out of a yearning for a new pace of life.

He truly found his calling here.

Anjali Behl writes.

ph: 0419 139 941 James.Rock@primecreative.com.au QLD Sales: Hollie Tinker ph: 0466 466 945 e-mail: Hollie.Tinker@primecreative.com.au SA/WA Sales: Nick Lenthall mobile: 0439 485 835 e-mail: Nick.Lenthall@primecreative.com.au

NSW Sales: Con Zarocostas mobile: 04357 594 238 e-mail: Con.Zarocostas@primecreative.com.au

48. interview | michael van maanen

WHAT’S NEXT?

SUBSCRIPTIONS

The newly appointed CEO of Nexport Mobility, Michel Van Maanen, was gracious enough to chat with ABC magazine after arriving in Australia from his native homeland of Holland.

Fabian Cotter was asking the tough e-mobility questions.

www.magshop.com.au e-mail: magshop@magshop.com.au ph: 1300 461 528 between 8am – 6pm (EST) Mon – Fri mail: Magshop, GPO Box 5252, Sydney, NSW, 2001 Annual subscription rates (12 issues): Australia: $89* NZ: $A100.05 Overseas: $A122.50 (Australian air-mail only) *price includes GST

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56. guide | electric buses - in oz

IT’S ALIVE!

The future is here with fully electric propulsion seemingly the next revolution in technology to hit the transport world. Here we showcase and recap some of the exciting developments taking place in Australia, or are due to hit soon!

EXECUTIVE GROUP CEO: John Murphy Publisher: Christine Clancy COO: Zelda Tupicoff Operations Manager: Regina Fellner Trader Group Sales Director: Brad Buchanan

departments

65. bus marketplace | classifieds

FOR SALE!

There’s hundreds of great vehicles and services listed here from some of the leading bus and coach companies on the planet. Have a look around and see what you might find in there!

70. factory facts | bus deliveries

MONTHLY RESULTS

We know you love them and so we have the latest bus and coach supplier sales data collected and recorded for you to sink your teeth into. To know who is who and who’s done what simply check it out!

ABC is published by Prime Creative Media 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Telephone: (+61) 03 9690 8766 Website: www.primecreative.com.au

ISSN 1324-8634 Member: Circulations Audit Board

Circulation 3,312

CIRCULATIONS AUDIT BOARD

(CAB Audit, March 2021)

Largest circulating bus and coach magazine in Australasia CIRCULATIONS DISTRIBUTION AUDIT BOARD

In 2022, Ebusco will supply the very first fully composite, electric buses in the Netherlands.

Distribution within Australia and New Zealand and beyond by paid subscription to the owners and managers of: • route buses • government bus operations • school buses • extended and day tour operations • express coaches • country and charter operations • bus and coach manufacturers • equipment suppliers • tourism attractions • railways management.

Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in ABC is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. Opinions expressed in ABC are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

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17/08/2021 3:44:31 PM

IGNITION

FABIAN COTTER

Time Waits for No Man Another day, another lockdown. Still, like Marty Feldman’s character said in Mel Brooks’s masterpiece Young Frankenstein, “It could be worse, could be raining.”

T

urn off the TV, I say. The best lockdown entertainment going around is the comments section of the newspaper articles published online, without doubt.

It’s got everything. Covid stuff, non-Covid (actually, who am I kidding? It’s all Covid these days; it’s bleedin’ everywhere!), vaccine rollout success, adverse reactions, old virus information, new virus information – and a gamut of opinions and theories either side for you to sift through that could easily see you while away hours of enlightenment or indoctrination, depending on how you ‘think’ you see it. ;) These are interesting times, indeed.

Right about now, everyone has their opinions of what’s happening around the world, why it’s happening, then why it’s really happening, and only

then what needs to be done. Problems, solutions. Problems, solutions. Armchair experts all around peppered with solid research either way just to keep the angst or therapy happening.

And there is angst, for sure, from all this.

Let me guess, friends and family split and not talking like they used to? Feeling a closer connection to some random person down the street than buddies and kin you’ve spent years with and would die for?

Am I wrong?

The key here is to be able to openly discuss these different sides and views and absorb them and maturely discuss them.

That is mankind’s challenge. The emotional turmoil and secret squirrel conversations behind each other’s back is exactly the way it has been for aeons, I reckon. And that needs to change.

Cave people arguing over who had the best club, or who makes the best Brontosaurus Burgers, would have been par for the course. And probably ended up creating issues bigger than they needed to be from lack of empathy for each other’s views (Who did discover fire, by the way?)

Surely the ‘computers’ in our heads can realise not all brains run the same operating systems – even through the OS prevents that very conclusion. And it is ok that different ones exist. Not all have to have the ‘latest updates’.

Some things just work better without 6

it, after all. Don’t get me started on older paint programs or video editors as perfect metaphorical examples. Like INXS said ‘Don’t change’. Anyway, more months of this to come. Enjoy your ABC magazine in the meantime. ;)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE… Welcome to the insightful world of ABC magazine Issue 408, where the pages ‘pop and fizz’, apparently. I took this as a compliment as I pictured it as an exciting breakfast cereal that ‘snap, crackled and popped’ each morning for people. Or maybe they just used it to squeegee away the spilt milk. Who knows? :) Gracing our cover this month is the stunning new Marcopolo G8 ‘super coach’ (that’s how I saw it anyway; that under-rated Spielberg flick Super 8 came to mind at the time), which interestingly and wonderfully extends its coach-tourism bus body range simultaneously – while not immediately replacing – its G7 range.

It’s on not just because it’s a fantastic-looking coach body underwritten by creature comforts, ‘sustainable’ design and passive and active safety aspects for the modern – and future – traveller, but also as it’s symbolic of a benchmark arguably needed to woo as many people onto coaches, perhaps rather than onto planes in some instances, as this pandemic-ruined existence beds into our travel lives.

This stunning coach, particularly in double-deck form, may well proffer the space, lighting and surrounding visual stimulation that passengers need over longer journeys, for a range of mental and health reasons – or such is the ball of thought I’m lining up and motioning to throw into the basket. Check that one out on pages 32–38.

For an operator story this issue, we virtually visit Kerton Investments, which recently picked up a new Mercedes-Irizar bus combo to add to its Volvo and Iveco running fleet. It’s an interesting story as Trevor Kerton relatively recently got into operating buses and ‘finding a new home’ after years of farming vegetables. Knowing a few people in the Aussie bus industry certainly helped him make the transition and to personify the mantras that one

should ‘work to live, not live to work’ and ‘love what they do for a job’. That’s on pages 40–46.

Then, ABC was lucky enough to grab some time with new Nexport CEO Michel Van Maanen, who arrived in Australia from The Netherlands mid-year after wrapping up his duties at Ebusco. Bringing years of e-bus and transport experience with him from working both overseas and also in Australia, the return of sorts is part of Nexport/TrueGreen’s vision to electrify the e-bus ecosystem here in Australia faster that it seems it is on track to do. Read our interview with him on pages 48–54.

Now … some down news. I wouldn’t say bad news, but just down – and that’s with the deliveries. After the industry high as the financial year ended, the deliveries dropped a bit to 69 for the first month of the new financial year. Whether it’s to do with a general trend year-on-year or something impacted by the lockdowns most of us unfortunately find us in – or maybe 69 is a retro throwback to cult movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, I’m not sure. But it’s early days on that, so looking forward to see how next month turns out.

Finally, our 2021 E-bus Guide in Oz looks at and re-caps a few companies that right now, or very soon enough, could supply and deliver an electric bus to an Aussie bus operator, or at least let them take one on a test drive (in theory, lockdowns aside) this year – or close enough. That is, yes there are many other manufacturers worldwide doing electric buses, but are they here? No. Will they get here soon-ish? Umm… No. So, the guide is very Oz market-specific. Check it out on pages 56–64.

And that’s all she wrote, as the cliché goes. All we can do is take each day at a time while in lockdown and, if anything, it’s quite therapeutic. Well, that’s how I try to (bluff myself) see it anyway.

But, seriously folks, try to stay positive and just pick up the phone and chat to someone if it makes you feel better.

Sounds pretty socially responsible of me to suggest that, right? Not all. I never said they couldn’t be lockdown prank calls… ;) Just kidding.

Until the next thrilling instalment…

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17/8/21 10:37 am

NEWS

BUSWAYS WINS SYDNEY REGION 7 BUS CONTRACT PRIVATE AUSTRALIAN bus operator Busways has confirmed industry rumours that it has more than doubled its Sydney operations following being awarded the Region 7 contract.

NSW Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance, announced the award of one of Greater Sydney’s largest bus contracts to Busways.

From January, 2022, Busways will operate almost 1.1 million trips per year for customers in the Lower North Shore and Inner North West for Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7, extending from Parramatta into the Sydney CBD, Busways says.

It is the first time this network will be managed by a private operator, Busways confirms.

With an appetite for collaborative government and industry partnerships, the company is working across five of TfNSW’s Future Transport Technology Roadmap’s six priority programs for transport technology and customer benefits, it says.

This includes projects in zero-emissions technology, demand-responsive transport, automated passenger vehicle services, and real-time customer 8

information to improve customer experience on the NSW public transport network, it adds.

Busways managing director Byron Rowe says Busways will focus on efficiencies, new technologies and improving the customer experience over the new eightyear contract, including the fleet transformation to zero-emissions electric buses.

“By appointing Busways, the NSW government has backed an Australian-owned company to deliver world-class services for customers of the integrated transport network,” Rowe said.

“We look forward to continuing our highly effective and positive working relationship with the NSW government, our partner for eight decades, to deliver customer value and introduce innovations that help more people to easily, quickly and safely use public transport.”

Above: From January, 2022, Busways will operate almost 1.1 million trips per year for customers in the Lower North Shore and Inner North West for Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7, it explains.

the company says.

The win follows Busways’ expansion into South Australia last year.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the region’s employees to join our team,” said Rowe.

“This is a priority for us. We will innovate around Covid-19 restrictions.

“It’s important for people to have access to information and opportunities to chat and get to know us” he said.

Rowe says Busways will make significant investment in enhancing services to improve customer journey experiences in the lower North Shore and inner North West, including fleet-wide upgrades for on-board CCTV, two-way radio systems and fleet presentation standards.

Busways will work with Transport for NSW to electrify the fleet,

STAFF, OPERATION EXPANSION Under the contract, Busways will welcome around 900 employees, 453 buses and two depots to the company’s expanding operations, solidifying its position as Australia’s largest privately owned bus operator,

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deliver a substantial capital works program to increase depot capacity and introduce smart technology and real-time passenger information at bus stops, with necessary planning already underway, it confirms.

“We are a passionate and energised team backed by a solid and respected track record, Rowe added.

“We’re a unique Australian story. We started running one passenger service in 1942 driven by the belief that people need great public transport.

“Almost eight decades later we’re still passionate and committed to providing a valued bus service that can be relied on,” Rowe stated.

THE PLAN Busways’ proposal for the Lower North Shore and Inner North West bus network Busways has committed to delivering enhancements for customers and the network, including: • Thirty-five zero emissions buses (ZEBs) • Substantial depot capital works program to increase depot capacity and electrify the fleet; • CCTV upgrades fleet-wide for improved safety and security • New 4G two-way radios fleet-wide for better service reliability and customer information • Cleaning and repair program to lift fleet presentation standards and passenger comfort • Solar-powered smart technology at selected bus stops with real-time service information • Proactive and preventative maintenance regime backed by its ISO 55001 accredited Asset Management System

REGION 7 – IN BRIEF According to Busways, more than 410,000 people live in Sydney’s CBD, north west, northern harbour and riverside suburbs. The Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7 (GSBC7) bus services enable people to get to jobs, education, health and leisure activities by serving: • key commercial and retail areas • secondary and tertiary education facilities including Macquarie University and Western Sydney University • major health precincts • a range of residential areas from harbour side communities to public housing estates • key tourism and sporting destinations including Sydney Olympic Park, Bankwest Stadium. and Luna Park.

AUSSIE BUS BODY BUILDER PARTNERS WITH BLK AUTO NSW MID-NORTH COAST’s Express Coach Builders has entered into a commercial agreement with Bonluck bus importer BLK Auto to make zero-emission battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses here in Australia.

The pairing will usher in a range of zero-to-low emission buses and coaches co-engineered by the BLK and Express design teams specifically for the Aussie public transport and mining resources markets.

BLK Auto – the Australian distributor for BLK (aka Bonluck) buses – has established the alliance with Express as the demand for zero-emission buses ramps up locally, with government and private bus operators starting to switch buying criteria to zero emission, the companies explain.

BLK will provide dedicated battery-electric and hydrogen fuelcell-powered chassis, with Express designing and building specialised bodies, engineered to suit the zeroemission BLK chassis.

According to BLK Auto managing director Jason Pecotic, the collaboration with Express will be a win-win for the two companies, as well as for bus operators in Australia.

“We are very pleased to align with Express to deliver clean, green, emission-free buses tailored for Australian operations and using a dedicated battery or fuel-cellpowered BLK chassis, designed from the start as a zero-emission vehicle – not adapted from a diesel design,” Pecotic said.

“Dale Hancox and his team at Express have tremendous capabilities that will deliver the highest-quality standard, locally built, zero-emission buses to meet the increasing demand from the bus market.

“Express has impressed with the standard of its engineering and quality workmanship and we are very pleased to be working with them to deliver the best electric buses for the Australian market,” Pecotic explained.

Above: According to BLK Auto managing director Jason Pecotic, the collaboration with Express will be a win-win for the two companies, as well as for bus operators in Australia.

DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITY Express general manager Dale Hancox says the alliance with BLK is an exciting opportunity for the company to diversify and deliver the latest technology zero-emission options alongside traditional diesel bus solutions.

“This will enable us to offer the latest technology clean buses to a market that is seeking solutions in a rapidly changing public transport sector, while still meeting demand for traditional diesel buses and coaches,” Hancox stated.

“We are not forgetting our alliances with other chassis makers, but forging a new relationship with a chassis manufacturer that brings established green credentials,” he added.

Hancox says Express will receive the first BLK battery electric chassis in the coming weeks and expects to have a fully built zero-emission vehicle ready before the end of the year.

BLK will soon start delivering a fleet of hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses, which will arrive as Completely Built Up (CBU) vehicles for operation in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

These will use a similar Hyzon FCEV driveline to the bus chassis that Express will build bodies on in Australia, the companies confirm.

BLK Auto and Express plan to offer hydrogen FCEV buses to the market from early 2022, it states.

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NEWS

As ABC magazine understands, the Euro 6-emissions K360chassis bus in action is one of three artics, part of a 20-bus order all due to be delivered by December, 2021.

Additionally, we understand these are the very first artics that either Precision or Bustech have ever done.

Benefits of Euro6 artics, as experts will profess, include lower carbon emissions, less noise, they help get cars off the road, and they are easier for elderly passengers to board and alight from.

ADELAIDE O-BAHN ARTICULATED BUS TESTS UNDERWAY LOCAL ADELAIDE bus fans are loving being at the right place, right time to luckily spot the very first Bustech-bodied articulated Scania bus undergoing testing on the city’s O-Bahn transit system, scoop pics reveal.

The keen interest is being heightened by the fact the last new Scania ‘artic’ delivered to the O-Bahn and Adelaide’s nice wide city streets was in 2013, nearly 10 years ago, trainspotters (bus-spotters?) have explained.

SNEAK PICS

Above: The first Bustechbodied articulated Scania bus is undergoing testing on Adelaide’s O-Bahn transit system

When ABC asked around the bus industry traps, we were assured further information about the tests and delivery would be forthcoming soon.

Until then, here are some sneak images, courtesy of Adelaide local Nic Benn, to get Bustech-Scania bus fans through the sleepless nights...

IVECO AUSTRALIA NEW BUS BOSS ANNOUNCED

Above: Current head of sales – truck and van, Glen Dyer, has assumed responsibility for the bus and special vehicles portfolio.

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FOLLOWING A range of organisational changes at Iveco Australia, recently, latest re-appointments include a new bus department head, while company stalwart Steve Heanes departs.

In a move to, “…allow the company to further streamline operations and better respond to customer needs,” the latest appointments take effect immediately across sales, aftersales, product development and marketing, and will assist Iveco to reposition itself in the lead-up to several exciting new model releases, whilst placing a renewed emphasis on customer support, it states.

Current head of sales – truck and van, Glen Dyer, has assumed responsibility for the bus and special vehicles portfolio, Iveco Australia confirms.

Dyer joined Iveco earlier this year and has extensive senior experience in the commercial vehicle industry with another prominent OEM, Iveco states.

Additionally, a newly created

position to head Customer Services has been filled by Margot Baker, who previously held the role of legal counsel at Iveco.

Baker began with the company in 2016 and has gained a substantial understanding of the business and the needs of customers, Iveco explains.

Current Iveco head of network development Ella Letiagina’s role has been expanded to include product and marketing.

Letiagina joined Iveco in January and brings a wealth of automotive and management experience, both in Australia and internationally, the company explains.

In the product department, Iveco stalwart Marco Quaranta has assumed the position of strategic relations and industry relations manager with a focus on propulsion, while experienced Iveco product manager Emiliano Foieri has been promoted to product management lead.

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DYSON WOMEN BUS DRIVERS SMASHING CULTURAL AND GENDER BARRIERS A QUIET REVOLUTION is happening at Dyson’s bus depot in Shepparton, Victoria, where, since 2019, the Dyson Group has welcomed and trained three special women as bus drivers – breaking down traditional cultural boundaries and creating career pathways for a new generation of professional bus drivers, the company explains.

In 2019, Gurpreet Kaur was looking for a career change. She recalled: “I used to be an aged care worker, but I wanted to do something new, something that had not been done by the woman of my community before.

“I took the initiative to get my bus license and the Dyson Group offered me a job.

“I am very proud to be the first woman in my community to become a bus driver.

“The job gives me independence and control over things,” said Kaur.

The flexibility of the work fits in around Gurpreet’s other important roles of wife, mum and community volunteer, Dysons explains.

“It has been such a positive experience for me that I

encouraged two of my friends, Ritu and Raman, to get their licences and they have also joined the company,” Kaur explained.

“It would be unheard of for a woman to drive a heavy vehicle in India.

“I love that we are being trailblazers for our community,” she said.

Fellow bus driver Ritu Raj Kaur Badyal added: “Compared to previous work, I feel as though I have more respect as a bus driver.”

COMPANY ASSETS It is a win-win arrangement for the Dyson Group, the company says.

Dyson Group regional services operational manager Roy Dyson said: “These ladies have been an asset to the company.

“They are careful and considerate drivers and that is shown in the amount of wear and tear on the buses they drive and the passenger comfort.

“In particular, they have a fabulous customer service manner with children and students who are regular users of our bus services.”

HIGH CALIBRE

Above: Dyson’s bus depot in Shepparton, Victoria, is working with women from the local Indian community to create career pathways for the next generation of bus drivers.

Dysons Group manager – people, culture & values, Rochelle Dickason said: “Recruitment for new drivers can be challenging in regional communities.

“These ladies have been instrumental in attracting new drivers of an excellent calibre and breaking down perceived barriers.

“Our workforce continues to change and become even more diverse, which is great for the community and our business,” she explained. busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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NEWS

NSW BUS, TRUCK ‘GREEN HYDROGEN’ BOOST VIA $15 MILLION PLANT

A $15 MILLION Western Sydney gas plant will be generating ‘green hydrogen’ for use by transport and industrial customers from early 2022 following a joint commercial agreement announced recently.

Energy infrastructure company Jemena – backed by the State Grid Corporation of China and Singapore Power – and gas company Coregas will collectively be supplying green hydrogen, available to New South Wales for the first time, for the state’s transport sector, they confirm.

Buses, trucks and cars powered by green hydrogen could soon be a reality thanks to the new agreement touted as a ‘boost to NSW’, which takes effect from early 2022, they state.

Jemena general manager for renewable gas, Gabrielle Sycamore, says the agreement further demonstrates the potential of green hydrogen to store renewable energy and integrate future gas, electricity and transport refuelling networks.

“We know that green hydrogen has the immediate potential to become a viable zero-emission alternative to many petroleum-based fossil fuels currently used by industries such as transport and remote power generation,” Sycamore said.

“Hydrogen fuel cells are particularly 12

well suited to long-distance heavy haulage trucking requirements based on their comparatively light weight and fast refuelling times, which can be just a matter of minutes.”

BUS APPLICATION Hydrogen is used to power fuel-cell buses and cars in countries around the world, many will appreciate. In Japan, 500 fuel-cell vehicles were being used to transport competitors and staff at the belated 2020 Tokyo Olympics (hydrogen was also being used for the first time to power the Olympic torch flame), while in London – and like many other cities – hydrogen fuel-cell busses are being used for public transport across the city, they highlight.

The green hydrogen will be produced at Jemena’s $15 million Horsley Park-based Green Gas Project in Western Sydney, they confirm.

Co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the Power-to-Gas project is converting ‘renewable electricity’ to hydrogen gas, which can be blended and stored in Jemena’s gas distribution network to supply New South Wales homes and businesses, they explain.

“Together with the Western Sydney Green Gas Project, Jemena is bringing

renewable gas to homes and businesses across New South Wales, [while] it’s also offering the transport industry the opportunity to create their own path to a low-carbon future,” Sycamore said.

“Our partnership with Coregas is an exciting extension to the Western Sydney Green Gas Project and will allow the New South Wales transport industry to innovate by offering cleaner energy solutions to their customers.”

COMPRESSION AND STORAGE Coregas executive general manager Alan Watkins says the company is working hard to apply its expertise in hydrogen distribution, compression and storage as part of Australia’s transition to a hydrogen economy.

“Transforming the transport sector is a critical piece of the puzzle, and we are delighted to partner with Jemena to make renewably generated green hydrogen available to the transport industry in New South Wales,” Watkins said.

Above: “We are delighted to partner with Jemena to make renewably generated green hydrogen available to the transport industry in New South Wales,” said Coregas executive general manager Alan Watkins.

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BUS E-MOBILITY STAFF CHANGES AT VOLVO AUSTRALIA VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA (VBA) has made key new appointments to support its bus electro-mobility projects, the company recently announced.

Dean Moule has been promoted to the newly created role of electromobility product director, Asia Pacific Region (APAC), and Mark Fryer consequently promoted to the role of national sales engineering and bodybuild manager, Volvo Bus Australia – effective July, 2021.

With 35 years’ experience in the automotive industry and having spent the past 12 years as the sales engineering and bodybuild manager at Volvo Bus Australia, Moule brings with him a wealth of knowledge and insight, Volvo says.

He was involved in VBA’s first electro-mobility initiative with its hybrid project, developing and

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introducing the B5L S-Charge chassis to the Australian market a decade ago and, more recently, has been the electro-mobility project lead on the development of Volvo’s BZL electric chassis (due to be launched later in 2021).

Fryer will be taking Moule’s place as VBA’s national sales engineering & bodybuild manager. With more than 20 years’ experience with electrical systems – and having worked for Volgren for the past 15 years prior to joining VBA as technical and bodybuild support manager in early 2020 – Fryer has an

exceptional understanding of the industry, as well as of high-voltage technology, says VBA.

Above: Mark Fryer (left) and Dean Moule

“Moule was involved in VBA’s first electro-mobility initiative with its hybrid project, the B5L S-Charge”

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NEWS

VOLVO S-CHARGE HYBRID BUS: “NEXT BEST ALTERNATIVE” PRIOR TO ITS new BZL electric bus chassis debuting on Australia shores this year, Volvo Bus Australia (VBA) is reminding the local market of the value of its S-Charge hybrid bus, essentially given the still relative infancy of e-bus fleet charging infrastructure here.

Touted as “…the next-best alternative to electric buses” – and with more than 10 years of electro-mobility experience in the Aussie market – VBA is acknowledging the major role that its B5L S-Charge chassis has made in, “…paving the way towards this technology, with these hybrid vehicles ranking in as the next-best alternative to electric buses.”

Following the initial release of the B5L S-Charge chassis in 2013, Volvo’s S-Charge chassis has been making waves in the industry where there are few of its kind, the company states.

“The environmental, technological and cost benefits offered by the B5L S-Charge sees the S-Charge product being the next-best alternative to fully electric buses,” stated Mitch Peden, general manager Volvo Bus Australia.

“Compared to regular diesel buses, Volvo’s hybrids enable up to a 39 per cent saving on fuel and emit up to 40 per cent less climate-impacting carbon dioxide.

“While fully electric buses can offer benefits beyond this, the large-scale implementation of electric buses will be a progressive journey rather than an overnight transition.

“Volvo’s B5L S-Charge is an immediately

available product that can deliver part-time electric buses without operational constraints, and therefore plays an important role in the journey towards fully electric transport,” Peden explained.

to enhance the passenger experience for commuters in promising a silent ride, and giving city-siders improved quality of life through decreased air and noise pollution, it adds.

CITY TRIALS

CUSTOMER ACCEPTANCE

Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide were the earliest Australian cities to adopt the B5L S-Charge after VBA participated in the hybrid bus trials for Public Transport Authority of Western Australia in 2014, trials for Brisbane City Council in 2014, and trials for Adelaide Metro/Adelaide City Council in 2015.

Throughout the years, Volvo’s hybrid technology has demonstrated environmental benefits across these major cities in reducing C02 emissions, the company says.

The B5L S-Charge has also been instrumental in offering Zone Management technology, in allowing operators to achieve zero emissions in designated zones by operating exclusively in electric drive mode without relying on the electricity grid, or requiring expensive infrastructure for charging, VAB states.

This technology also has the capacity

The Volvo B5L S-Charge has garnered a positive reception from small and large operators across the country, according to VBA. Volvo’s B5L S-Charge combines a fuel-efficient 110kW electric motor, a right-sized 4-litre Euro 6 diesel engine and the Volvo I-Shift gearbox. Its design enables the use of bus bodywork with the same capacity as a conventional diesel or gas bus and features significant weight savings while allowing for passenger capacities on par with conventional diesel buses, it explains.

According to VBA, the B5L is built to cope with the needs of dense and demanding city traffic, but it is also suited for routes that service suburbs.

With great reliability and a servicefriendly layout for easy maintenance, the B5L S-Charge is designed to ensure optimum uptime for operators, it states.

“Compared to regular diesel buses, Volvo’s hybrids enable up to a 39 per cent saving on fuel.”

“The B5L S-Charge chassis is part of VBA’s holistic approach to sustainable transport solutions and has done an incredible job in facilitating part of our electro-mobility journey towards zero emissions,” affirmed Peden.

“We’re very grateful to have operators of all sizes adopt this technology and to see cities across Australia reaping the environmental and economic benefits.”

Left: “While fully electric buses can offer benefits beyond this, the large-scale implementation of electric buses will be a progressive journey rather than an overnight transition,” said Mitch Peden, general manager Volvo Bus Australia.

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BUS AIRCON EXPERT APPOINTS CUSTOMER-SUPPORT DEVOTEE AUSTRALIAN bus and coach air-conditioning expert Coachair has further expanded its commitment to customer support in appointing a new national parts manager, it’s announced.

Bringing a wealth of experience to the role, Coachair – established in 1978 as the first Australian designer and manufacturer of bus air conditioning systems to the market – has appointed Peter Soleski to the above-mentioned role, expanding the organisation’s commitment to customer support and service, it states.

Mechanically minded and with a strong background in parts, Soleski is described as an asset to the company.

“One of Peter’s great strengths is his ability to understand the mechanical reasons behind a breakdown and use that expertise to interpret the parts requirements to find a solution,” said Garry Webb, Coachair general manager, sales and marketing.

“He is experienced in delivering high-quality customer service to trade and business customers, which will be an asset for our clients.”

AUTOMOTIVE BACKGROUND Coachair provides its customers with a comprehensive platform of aftermarket support, spare parts, technical support and ongoing maintenance.

Soleski is looking forward to applying his extensive automotive background to the transit industry and taking a lead role in delivering a total parts solution, he says.

“I get a great deal of satisfaction in problem-solving to find the best outcome,” Soleski stated.

“Getting the right part the first time gets customers back on the road quickly, helping to keep their business running,” he explained.

IT’S JUST NOT CRICKET A keen cricketer, and previous president of his local cricket club, Soleski understands the dedication behind ongoing commitment, he says.

“I really believe in the ‘Through Life Support’ approach that is fundamental to Coachair’s customer service,” he confirmed.

“I’m excited to support our parts and service technicians to deliver that.”

ABOUT COACHAIR Established more than 40 years ago, Coachair is a market leader in providing engineered Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) solutions for the bus and rail industry, it explains.

It provides Through Life Support for all HVAC solutions, and has diversified into sacrificial anti-graffiti window film and interior lighting and panel

Above: Coachair welcomes Peter Soleski.

Top: “One of Peter’s great strengths is his ability to understand the mechanical reasons behind a breakdown and use that expertise to interpret the parts requirements to find a solution,” said Garry Webb, Coachair general manager, sales and marketing.

solutions in both the rail and bus segments, it confirms.

It remains the only company to design, build and manufacture air conditioning systems for the Australian bus and coach industry, it says. Coachair provides its customers with a superior, reliable product backed by a comprehensive platform of aftermarket support, spare parts, technical support, and ongoing maintenance. busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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NEWS

SCANIA MANDATES NHVR-COR COMPLIANCE MINIMUM THE DUTY to meet Chain of Responsibility (COR) accountability and updated NVHR standards’ compliance was a motivation behind Scania Australia’s national bus and truck technician certification programme, which completed recently, it reports.

With the minimum aim to ensure all its technicians are fully qualified and compliant with state and national certification for the jobs they undertake, Scania says it is proud to have some of the best technicians in the industry, who all have access to the special tools, vehicle data, service manuals and training allowing them to, “…diagnose and service Scania trucks, buses and engines better than anyone else.”

As the company explains, the Australian transport industry is heavily regulated and COR is an important consideration for operators.

Service and repair workshop technicians require more than factory training and ‘years on the tools’, but actual certificates that confirm they are qualified to undertake work on heavy-duty vehicles, it explains.

In order to support the long-term availability of trained technicians, Scania has developed its own apprentice program, it reports.

There is a comprehensive introduction training program for recently employed technicians, as well as technical progression programs for existing technicians, it confirms.

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FOUR-LEVEL TRAINING Scania workshops are equipped with special tooling that allows its staff to perform complex tasks in an efficient way and, as a company-owned distributor, Scania technicians are all enrolled in a bespoke four-level factory training program, it states.

“Scania is a premium brand and as

“Many workshops may not take the trouble to ensure their technicians are formally qualified, but at Scania we are proud to say that we have a process to ensure all work is done by a technician with the relevant legal qualification.

“There is more than brand pride at stake here; there are legal requirements and ramifications if an unqualified technician works on a vehicle, which may later be involved in an incident while in service,” he explained.

“Many of our larger fleet customers who are required to ensure that they have suitably qualified repairers and technicians working on their vehicles under the NHVR, do check this with us and we are happy to provide these guarantees.”

INVESTING IN PEOPLE Scania Australia’s workshop performance manager Mathew Wyatt says the company has set a high standard.

“We reviewed all of our 150 technicians nationwide and if there was an older qualification, or we thought that there may be a gap, then we have upskilled them to meet the latest formal qualifications,” Wyatt explained.

“This is important for our compliance with the NHVR regulations, and something our customers require, as well.

“When we sign contracts for

“Scania has invested heavily to ensure all our technicians have the relevant industry accredited qualifications.” such our customers should feel confident that we always have suitably qualified staff working on their vehicles, both from Scania product knowledge, legal and NHVR compliance points of view,” said Patrik Tharna, Scania Australia director of aftersales.

“Over the past 24 months, Scania has invested heavily to ensure all our technicians have the relevant industry accredited qualifications required to perform a wide range of tasks,” he said.

“We introduced a special training program to upskill technicians who were restricted in terms of what their qualifications allowed them to do.

“I would say that we’re a standout in the industry.

maintenance with large fleets, we are asked about the compliance of our technicians, and we have made sure that our people comply.

“Our recruitment process ensures from the first day that new hires are formally qualified, or, if not, that we have identified any gaps and will build a program to resolve this as a matter of urgency – and we will restrict the level of work that they can undertake until the program is completed.”

Above: “Over the past 24 months, Scania has invested heavily to ensure all our technicians have the relevant industry accredited qualifications required to perform a wide range of tasks,” said Patrik Tharna, Scania Australia director of aftersales.

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SCANIA ONLINE BUS ‘WORKSHOP’ LAUNCHED VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOS bus diagnostic and repair-need information – based on Apple iPad tablet technology – is now being rolled out across Scania’s company-owned branches Australia-wide, the company announced, recently.

Scania’s paperless Workshop Information Online innovation is helping to speed up servicing and repairs, getting customers’ buses back on the road more quickly, it states.

The iPad-based technology is providing technicians with real-time information about the buses they are working on, a complete work order list, as well as the ability to attach photos of damaged or broken components, which can be seamlessly sent to the customer in order to gain approval to proceed with repairs, Scania explains.

The service and repair information is then saved as part of the vehicle’s electronic history held on file by Scania, which can be reviewed the next time the bus returns to the workshop, it adds.

WIRELESS CONNECTION From the moment a bus or coach arrives at a Scania branch for repair or service work, the service advisor and service technician can monitor its progress through the workshop, the company states.

Using the Workshop Communication Unit – a ‘blackbox’ installed in the workshop – technicians can wirelessly connect to the bus using the Scania Workshop Suite app on the tablet to identify real-time

THE WOT!?!

information on errors or failures, drawing attention to what needs to be fixed prior to releasing the bus back to work, it says.

FASTER TURNAROUND “Workshop information online is integrated with our dealer management system. It is completely online, always up to date and available anywhere with internet for users with credentials,” said Jason Grech, Scania Australia’s technical support manager.

“With this technology we’ll be able to turn buses around more quickly, as well as ensure we have a complete and accurate report on the vehicle condition and the work that has been carried out on it.

“Not only does the system guide the technician through a workflow, but the iPads also contain the full factory workshop manual for the exact model of bus being worked on, showing the technician which chassis or powertrain parts need to be replaced, plus showing how to remove and refit them.

“A speech-to-text feature allows the technician to effortlessly send a message using the Wi-Fi system in the workshop to their supervisor, or the customer service representative, perhaps to order new parts, or to advise of the discovery of additional work required, without having to clean up their hands and manually write out a new item on the job card.”

Below: Scania’s paperless Workshop Information Online innovation is helping to speed up servicing and repairs.

FROM DEPOT WITH LOVE

A British bus operator’s Bond-themed bus name has been doing the rounds on socials recently, even though it was actually unveiled in November, 2019.’Bussy Galore’ - punning on Goldfinger character Pussy Galore - plies its trade around the northwest of England but is not the only unusually named bus out there, as online commentators pointed out.

Coach operator Megabus actually has 46 named buses on the UK’s roads, ranging from Al Bus Dumbledore and Bussy the Vampire Slayer to I am Spartabus and – in homage of nautical favourite Boaty McBoatface – Mega McMegaface. For a full list, visit: https:// uk.megabus.com/spot-our-named-coaches

NON-HEINOUS

Missing the thrill of a live music performance in these lockdown times? You’re not the only ones. Canadian groove rock band The Carbons have taken matters into their own hands to build themselves a mobile stage on a bus.

Complete with sound system, stage lights, solar panels and a rooftop stage to perform on, the 24-seater decommissioned accessibility bus has been gutted, revamped and named ‘Carol’, and allows the band to travel around Canada and play to gig-hungry fans hampered

by Covid venue restrictions. Most excellent! To check out the bus, or the band, visit: www.thecarbons.ca

FREE FOR ALL

The City of Boston is aiming to increase the accessibility of its public transport by running a three-month trial of free bus rides on its busiest route. Route 28 carried 12,500 riders a day pre-pandemic, two-thirds of which were classified as having a low income. Boston officials say that the aims of providing free public transport are to “lessen riders’ financial burden at a time when economic vulnerability is at a historic high” and to boost “Boston’s reopening, recovery, and long-term renewal”.

It is also expected to improve onboarding and travel times on a route that frequently runs behind schedule if passengers can board without paying. For more info, visit: www.boston.gov/departments/transportation/ free-route-28-bus-pilot

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NEWS

EXCITING ABC MAGAZINE RELAUNCH UNDER PRIME CREATIVE AUSTRALASIA’s favourite bus and coach industry publication, ABC magazine, is undergoing an exciting relaunch of key products and services under its new ownership with Prime Creative Media (PCM), the company has announced.

As the nation’s largest B2B publisher, Australian-owned PCM recently acquired ABC magazine (www.busnews.com. au) along with a suite of other leading industry titles, in a galvanising move that brings to market an enhanced experience for all involved in the local and international bus and coach scene.

ABC magazine will now utilise the extensive resources and strengths of PCM, with a slew of developments including a new-look weekly newsletter and a dedicated business development manager (BDM), bringing a more tailored approach to communicating with and supporting avid readers and valued commercial partners alike.

Investing in both print and digital technology to further increase ABC magazine’s reach – notably building upon four years of online growth – the new-look assets aim to fulfil a cornerstone philosophy of Prime Creative to ‘grow’ the individuals, organisations and industries it engages with.

CLEAR FOCUS Newly appointed BDM Matt Alexander says he’s inspired by the clear new focus of ABC magazine and welcomes the opportunity to help Prime Creative – a multi-platform publishing and events business engaged with high-growth industries – to fulfil its aims.

“I’m really excited to now be dedicated to the bus industry,” Alexander said.

“I’ve been involved in this 18

industry for over five years and to now have a full focus on buses, and to also work with such an innovative bus community, I couldn’t be happier that Prime Creative asked me take on this role.

“Seeing a new direction and new products for ABC and BusNews.com.au, and to work with a talented team at Prime, can only enhance our readership experience and increase engagement with our content and advertisers”

CREATIVE VISION PCM CEO John Murphy says the acquisition of ABC magazine was an important step in supporting this vital industry, by ensuring this leading publication continues into the future.

“We have been lucky enough to purchase Australasian Bus & Coach magazine recently with our purchase of the Trader Media Group,” he said.

“Prime Creative values this industry and product and

in quality journalists, and cover the important developments taking shape in these industries that play such a critical role in our economy.”

ABOUT PRIME CREATIVE PCM publishes more than 80 print and digital platforms, it confirms. It is a top employer of media professionals in Australia, now employing

“ABC magazine will now utilise the extensive resources and strengths of PCM, with a slew of developments.” will be investing in growing the print and digital offering in this space.

“Having a variety of print and digital publications owned by Australian companies is critical to maintaining a diverse media landscape,” he explained.

“Far too many publications in this country are closing down, as they adopt digital-first strategies only to lose even more market share to Google and Facebook.

“By keeping Australian-owned publications alive, we can invest

more than 130 full-time, Australian-based journalists, editors, graphic designers, business development professionals, and an inhouse IT development team, it states.

Throughout its history, PCM’s mission statement of growing individuals, organisations, and industries drives its work in industry-leading magazines, websites, newsletters and events focused on supporting critical industries to the Australian economy, it explains.

Above: Now under the new ownership of Prime Creative Media (PCM), ABC magazine gets a dedicated businessdevelopment manager, Matt Alexander.

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Navigating Change Ongoing change in the industry can reveal new opportunities...

R

eflecting on the human shift and adaptation to the current pandemic crisis, Heraclitus comes to mind with his words – “Change alone is unchanging”.

A philosopher from Ancient Greece, Heraclitus – nicknamed ‘The Obscure’ – was known for his cryptic utterances. In this time of global obscurity, it is little comfort that the inevitability of change will never change. However, it is fair to say that uninvited change often results in vast improvements in our lot in life.

Change presents the opportunity to transform and to be inventors of innovation.

Massive change is evident in our own moving people industry. Public transport has been a major change-driver over the past century. The growth patterns of Australia’s cities, for example, could never have happened without the introduction of horse-drawn trams (circa 1885), which sparked the spread of inner-city suburbs.

At the 1911 Australian census, 42 per cent of the population lived in rural areas; by 2006, only 12 per cent of Australians were located in rural areas. In 1901, 37 per cent of Australians lived in metropolitan urban areas (capital cities and surrounding suburbs). In 2006, 57 per cent of Australians were living in metropolitan urban areas.

Today, nine in 10 Australians live in urban areas.

By the 1930s, buses started to become the new workhorse for moving people. The 1930s also saw the use of buses to carry school children.

Tasmania, as an example of change transformation, adopted a central school system replacing isolated

“When the founding federation fathers crafted the Australian Constitution, they could not have imagined what our cities would look like today. ” one-teacher schools; a development only made possible by the innovative thinking to use private buses to transport the students.

When the founding federation fathers crafted the Australian Constitution, they could not have imagined what our cities would look like today.

They could not have imagined that our major cities would have populations in the millions or how the commercial combustion engine would change travel patterns and a city’s development. They could not have imagined that more than 80 per cent of Australia’s population would live in cities in 20

2015 and that agricultural production and trade in primary produce and mineral resources would not be the main drivers of our local economy.

The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) itself would never have formed if it wasn’t for the rapid growth being experienced in the bus and coach industry – in bus operations and in bus manufacturing.

The BIC had its beginnings in its predecessor the Australian Bus and Coach Association (ABCA), which was established in 1981 with membership initially comprising bus and coach private operators and later all state bus representative bodies. In 1994, the ABCA was renamed the Bus Industry Confederation. The transition was completed in 1996, during which time bus industry suppliers also became members. In 2002, the BIC secretariat was established in Canberra to create and provide a stronger voice for the bus and coach industry in national policy making and advocacy in federal and state parliaments.

After a successful two decades as the national bus policy change-driver, the BIC has made some recent internal changes of our own. On August 2, we expanded our team with the appointment of a new executive director – Roz Chivers. Chivers brings a strong knowledge-base to the BIC with vast experience in policy and advocacy.

She has previously worked for the Australian Local Government Association, the Department of Premier and Cabinet (NSW) and the ACT government on a range of major projects in policy and program development and implementation.

Chivers comes to the BIC with an enthusiasm for public transport. She has always been an advocate for public transport and was a project lead on various initiatives such as the development of the Belconnen-to-City Busway project and a range of behaviour-change projects to encourage people to use public or sustainable transport as part of their daily commute.

The BIC isn’t quite done with ‘change’ just yet.

We are continuing with the planned National Conference in Brisbane on November 21 to 24, the theme of which is ‘Moving People – Navigating Change’. We have put in place some small plans to navigate Covid impacts but we remain hopeful that much of Australia will be Covid-Safe or on the way to being so. Mark your diaries. We will be launching the program in August and hope to see you face to face in Brisbane soon.

The BIC secretariat is committed to the ‘moving people’ vision that enhances the sustainability and liveability of Australia’s cities and regions by using bus and coach transportation. Readers can connect with us on (02) 6247 5990, or by email to enquiries@bic.asn.au.

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IN FOCUS

VOLVO-ZF PARTNERSHIP

VOLVO-ZF BUS PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATED

Innovation, safety and reliability underwrite Volvo Bus and ZF’s decadeslong partnership in producing a gamut of quality buses together for the Australian market, the companies retrospectively concur.

W

ith 2021 marking the 50th anniversary of Volvo Bus Australia (VBA), the company has reflected on its long-standing partnership with industry leading global parts supplier, ZF. Not long after Volvo Bus reached Australian shores in 1971, the company established itself as an automotive pioneer of quality, safety and environmental care, and became a well-connected industry original equipment manufacturer, it explains.

Volvo Bus prioritised finding trusted and reliable industry partners to support its operations and customer success – with ZF being one of its earliest partners, it confirms.

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Established in Friedrichshafen, Germany – 12 years prior to Volvo’s conception in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1927 – ZF and Volvo both share European heritages and have, “...maintained similar visions since the beginning, in creating innovative, safe and reliable transport solutions,” they state.

LED ZEPPELIN Originally established to provide gears for Zeppelins and other airships, ZF became an agile manufacturer throughout the years in expanding its production across parts for a range of automotive vehicles and for industrial, marine and aviation applications, it says.

While ZF officially opened its first office in Australia in 1987, VBA and ZF’s partnership

dates to the beginning of Volvo’s history in Australia in the early ‘70s.

Throughout these early years, Volvo’s beloved B58 chassis was primarily fitted with ZF’s two-speed automatic transmission (2HP45) – providing comfort and safety in a city driveline, it explains.

Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, ZF gearboxes evolved from four-speed to five-speed automatic transmissions and were worked into various other Volvo vehicles, including the B6 and legendary B10M. ZF later introduced its impressive six-speed transmission in the early 2000s, which Volvo quickly adopted into its proceeding models, including the B7R and B12.

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for decades, combining the best of our businesses to develop and deliver innovative, safe and reliable transport solutions.

“Throughout Volvo’s 50 years in Australia, they have helped shape the industry and we congratulate them on achieving this fantastic milestone,” continued Bain.

In 2010, ZF made yet another innovative step forward with the release of the ZF Ecolife transmission, with VBA delivering the very first bus into the Australian market with this special transmission in its DNA, the companies proudly explain.

Today, VBA and ZF remain close business partners, and ZF’s EcoLife transmission continues to be integrated into VBA chassis across the city, school and coach range in the B11R and highly popular B8R – with thousands operating successfully in bus fleets across the country, says Volvo.

GREAT BALANCE Volvo’s reliable and efficient chassis features, paired with the ZF EcoLife transmission, has provided customers with the benefit of enhanced fuel economy, increased vehicle uptime and productivity, optimised driving experience and reduced environmental impacts through fewer CO2 emissions, they state.

“Volvo is one of our most valued partners in the Australian bus industry,” said Gary Bain, head of OE/OES sales – Oceania at ZF. “We have worked closely together

DEDICATED TEAMS In addition to the benefits of Volvo and ZF’s proven European technology, both companies have remained committed to servicing Australian customers with dedicated teams and facilities, offering specialised services and support, they confirm.

“Since the beginning of Volvo Bus in Australia, ZF have remained our trusted business partner and together we have delivered unparalleled solutions to our customers across the country,» said Mitch Peden, general manager Volvo Bus Australia.

“While together our products

have been able to speak for themselves, our specialised teams and support networks have allowed us to go above and beyond,” he added.

“VBA and ZF’s dedicated people, networks and specialised parts and service facilities have allowed us to remain agile and keep up with industry demands.

“The team at VBA are grateful for the wonderful partnership we’ve had with ZF throughout the decades and we look forward to continuing our partnership into the future,” concluded Peden.

Opposite: ZF’s six-speed transmission was quickly adopted

by Volvo after it was developed in the early 2000s.

Top: ZF was one of Volvo Bus Australia’s earliest partners.

Above: Both companies are committed to providing quality service to customers.

Left: The ZF EcoLife transmission.

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IN FOCUS

TORRENS TRANSIT ISO

SOUTH OZ BUS OPERATOR RETAINS KEY ISO CERTIFICATIONS Transit Systems’ South Australiabased bus and public transport operator Torrens Transit has successfully retained its independently audited ISO certifications for a raft of crucial management systems, it recently announced.

T

hese leading industry ISO certification benchmarks for asset management systems, quality management systems, safety management systems and environmental management systems are absolutely critical in safely and responsibly operating a global public transport company, Transit Systems states.

Rigorous certification of ISO 55001 – Asset Management – is now held by the operator in three states, which Sealink Travel Group (Sealink owns Transit Systems) CEO Clint Feuerherdt says very few bus operators have achieved.

“In addition, all of the recent certifications encompass Torrens Transit’s newest operations in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, all within one year of commencing operations, evidencing the pursuit of quality service delivery,” he said.

Feuerherdt adds that the achievement was a reflection of the commitment from the entire team.

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“From our chief of operations and general manager to our drivers, engineers and customer service staff, we have developed and deployed systems that support them in delivering the most reliable, safe, convenient and innovative service we can each day.

“We are incredibly proud of our team and the achievement in securing and retaining the highest industry standard of certification across the most critical parts of the business,” he said.

LOCAL UNDERSTANDING Part of what makes Transit Systems an exceptional leader in the transport space is that it has a local understanding of each city, combined with a global team committed to leveraging worldclass operational experience, with successful networks across Australia,

London and Singapore, it explains.

“We bring together the best minds in public transport with the latest technology and a desire to operate locally, ensuring we are delivering a world-class experience to the communities we service,” he said.

Transit Systems and the wider Sealink businesses continue to dominate across many areas of innovation, with hydrogen and electric assets already in operation, it states.

“When we combine our high standard of management with our innovation intel, we have created a culture of excellence that we believe ultimately benefits our clients, their customers, communities, the environment and our industry.

“We passionately believe we can combine safe, reliable and convenient public transport with the most innovative and sustainable outcomes to ensure that our customers are

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We bring together the best minds in public transport with the latest technology and a desire to operate locally. enjoying a holistic service, from network access and integration, to a greener ride,” he said.

ABOUT SEALINK Sealink Travel Group is Australia’s largest integrated land and marine, tourism and public transport service provider with established international operations in London and Singapore, it explains.

It is one of Australia’s most experienced and diverse multi-modal transport businesses, boasting performance-driven capabilities across ferry, bus and light rail, it says.

Sealink is made up of Australian marine and tourism

operations and Transit Systems’ domestic and international public bus and light rail transport operations.

It moves more than 206 million customers per year, has in excess of 9,000 employees and operates approximately 3,800 buses, 120 ferries and 24 light-rail vehicles, it confirms.

Opposite: Transit Systems, of which Torrens Transit is the SA arm of, holds ISO 55001 – Asset Management certification in three states Right: Torrens Transit has successfully retained independently audited ISO certifications for asset, quality, safety and environmental management systems. busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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16/08/2021 2:57:30 PM

IN FOCUS

TRUE GREEN EV FUNDING

TRUE GREEN SECURES E-BUS FUNDING Australian ‘clean tech’ investor True Green – whose portfolio includes electric bus transport and technology group Nexport Mobility – has successfully secured $110 million to advance its e-bus and EV making capability nationwide.

H

ong Kong-based Tor Investment Management, a private alternative asset manager focused on AsiaPacific markets with more than US$2 billion (A$2.7 billion) in assets under management, provided the new funding line, True Green confirms. Burnvoir Corporate Finance Limited supplied financial advice for the raise, it adds.

Environmental social and governance accelerator and active impact investor True Green Impact Group (True Green) will use the funds as growth capital for the Nexport Group, which is currently leading the clean mobility-tech evolution across Australia, it states.

This includes boosted funding to support the NSW government with its transition to an electric bus fleet and to introduce a range of mobility product offerings to the corporate and consumer markets, it explains.

The funding injection also supports the renaissance of clean-tech manufacturing in Australia with Nexport, as reported earlier, to establish a large-scale production facility at a 94-hectare eco-hub in the NSW Southern Highlands region of Moss Vale – being developed by the True Green Group, it confirms.

TRITIUM CONNECTION Following a recent Australian Financial 28

Review (AFR) report that cited Nexport Mobility planning to team up with charging group Tritium to make electric vehicles in Brisbane, True Green executive director Luke Todd – as he confirmed a $110 million funding injection – stated to the AFR: “We’re very excited about the recent Olympics news because we believe a key part of Brisbane and the Olympics is hopefully going to be the first zero-emission Olympics.

“We’re in detailed discussions with Tritium about having a joint facility where we’ll be manufacturing EV products in Brisbane.”

As the AFR reports, Todd describes Brisbane-headquartered Tritium as a “business cousin” because both Tritium, which makes fast-chargers for electric vehicles (EVs), and Nexport Mobility are backed by Trevor St Baker’s St Baker Energy Innovation Fund.

It cites Nexport wanting to build a battery testing facility in Brisbane in partnership with Tritium, so it can demonstrate the safety of electric batteries.

Todd told the AFR: “Hopefully, one day, if we’re making batteries in Australia, whether it’s us or ...some other entities,

this will be a facility that would be an open platform type facility where anyone could come along and our team of technicians would work with them to test the batteries.”

The AFR report adds that Nexport also hopes to build electric buses and logistics trucks in Brisbane alongside Tritium’s manufacturing plant for charging stations.

“That then starts to create this whole ecosystem of clean-tech industry that hopefully puts Brisbane, and other parts of Australia, on the map globally as a renowned trusted quality manufacturer of products and chargers.”

STATE OF ORIGIN Given his recent comments which seemed to focus on True Green’s EV endeavours in Queensland, ABC magazine asked Todd if this was a new focus, or was it still on NSW, or if there was some 60/40, 70/30 split either way envisaged for direction of True Green/Nexport funding and resources to both.

“We are focused on NSW, VIC, QLD and also the ACT ... each is equally important,” Todd replied.

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IN FOCUS

TRUE GREEN EV FUNDING

We’re in detailed discussions with Tritium about having a joint facility where we’ll be manufacturing EV products in Brisbane.

BUS PRODUCTION The locally produced EVs will be developed in conjunction with specialised Chinese EV automotive group BYD Auto Co., Ltd., of which American business magnate and investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns 8.2 per cent, sources confirm.

According to True Green, the funding, “...significantly bolsters the group’s balance sheet and provides a clear runway to a potential IPO in early 2022.”

Additionally it, “...marks TrueGreen’s push to bring manufacturing back to Australia and [the] Southern Highlands region.”

It also highlights the ongoing demand from government organisations and other large corporate groups for sustainable alternatives, as Australia urges closer 30

to net-zero emissions, it explains.

MAJOR COUP

Opposite: The $110 million funding injection supports the renaissance of clean-tech manufacturing in Australia, says Nexport/True Green.

Above: True Green and Tritium are in discussions to build an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Brisbane.

Nexport received considerable demand from a range of international investment groups, which well exceeded the $110m needed, True Green confirms.

This funding follows the completion of a successful capital raise in May, 2021, when Nexport secured A$20 million from the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund.

True Green’s Todd said: “To have secured this funding is a major coup for Nexport. It exceeded the total amount we were initially seeking and comes from a major international fund, highlighting the broad reach and potential applicability of our vehicles.

“The group now has the

necessary financial flexibility to progress a number of opportunities and bring advanced manufacturing back to Australia and transform EV adoption from aspirational to mainstream.”

OTHER VERTICALS True Green is assessing a number of other avenues to fund and further scale up its broader operations, it confirms.

The group is currently seeking funding for other verticals and, pleasingly, is experiencing a similar level of interest, it says.

The group continues to generate very strong interest across its portfolio and a number of developments are expected to materialise in the coming months, according to the company.

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17/8/21 10:38 am

COVERSTORY

MARCOPOLO G8 SERIES

I

t’s no secret that the long-distance coach tourism sector – not just in Australia and New Zealand – has taken a shellacking since the Covid-19 outbreak started near 18 months ago.

What was once a burgeoning segment of the industry itself, arguably the sexy and glamourous side of the bus-travel experience, took a hit from the global fallout of planes grounded and advance bookings cancelled virtually overnight.

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Fastforward about 18 months and while few would say the pandemic is over (and there are more than enough out there saying that it was never meant to be), the industry in pockets has shown promising ‘green shoots’ of undergrowth that gives much hope for the future of coach travel, as it picks itself up from the floor, dusts itself off and rises to the challenge once more.

A long shot? Maybe. Or maybe not.

And it all may come down something as simple as … sleep.

THE POWER OF THE MIND If you’ve ever flown long distances in the past – sometimes for some that’s even within just their region or country – the novelty of fatigue and ‘jetlag’ wears off pretty fast. A necessary evil? For sure … before. Yet, what if that wasn’t the case in future?

Aside from being ‘war-story’ boasting for seasoned jetsetters and travellers to those whom meet and greet them at the airport, travel fatigue can have some serious health

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SUPER 8

Regular coach passengers worldwide might have used that transport mode out of pure necessity, habit, or simply personal choice. Post-pandemic, coach tourism’s challenge is to woo them back in droves – as well as newcomers en masse. To do so, and if first impressions count, then Marcopolo’s new G8 series of coaches has all the calculations covered.

WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES COURTESY MARCOPOLO/VOLGREN

implications if not managed properly.

That is, while online sources like TheHealthy lists a range of hazards for air travel including: low oxygen making you feel sleepy or ‘headachy’; feet swelling and possible blood clots, dehydration, shifts in cabin pressure making people ‘gassy’ (no explanation needed there, fortunately. Or is that ‘unfortunately’?); ears popping; toothaches; dry skin and bad breath – to name a few – perhaps most undervalued is its effect on our circadian rhythm.

Far from sounding like a B-grade reggae cover band begging for pub gigs on some obscure Caribbean island, tinkering with our ‘body clock’ is a dark art best left alone.

The science behind it is too complex for here, but as experts like doctor Paulo M. Alves of MedAire, an ‘International SOS’ company that’s the world’s leading medical and travel security risk service, explains to TheHealthy: “Hormone secretion, sleepiness, alertness, and hunger sensation, among other

functions, depend on our internal clock.

“The rule is that we need around one day for every hour of time zone we cross, so that means that after a six-hour transatlantic flight we would need around six days for our cycles to be fully re-synchronised with the local time.”

Ultimately, this field will lead to the amazing pineal gland in our brains (who knew?) producing melatonin and super-fuelling our immunity, which, as Colorado State University among busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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COVERSTORY

MARCOPOLO G8 SERIES

This might put long-distance coach travel into a whole new realm of mainstream traveller acceptability.

other medical doyens will explain: “…has the ability to entrain biological rhythms and has important effects on reproductive function of many animals.”

Even better, latest medical research on Swiss peer-review site MDPI proffers melatonin as a potential ‘silver bullet’, stating: “…because of its wide-ranging effects as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory compound, melatonin could be unique in impairing the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

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So, get good sleep and improve your immunity, maybe. Get better sleep on a coach than a plane and that can’t be bad for travellers, right?

Thus, post pandemic, if there is any founded or unfounded hesitancy to fly en masse again, this might put long-distance coach travel into a whole new realm of mainstream traveller acceptability. And, if so, supreme next-gen coaches like Marcopolo’s G8 series could prove immeasurably fortuitous in its future-travel foresight.

GREAT G8 In the context of the above, imagine if you will be doing intra-continental, interstate and intra-state travel in the uber-comfortable, spacious, safe (the frontal collision testing was intense,

for the fastest release of the driver) and classy confines of something like Marcopolo’s new G8 series of buses.

If that Field of Dreams movie mantra was anything to go by, and with baseballer ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson metaphorically not just one of those accustomed to travelling via coach, but more specifically one who either curiously contemplates or ardently pines for it – but are yet to actually find the right vessel to make it happen – the G8 coach body might actually lure them out of the cornfields.

As the Brazilian bus maker proudly states, the new G8 line of vehicles: “…represents a breakthrough in innovation for the brand, with unique standards of safety, comfort, connectivity, handling and ergonomics,

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Above, Left: The new G8 series from Marcopolo “represents a breakthrough in innovation”, it says.

Above, Right: Frontal collision testing was a key focus for driver safety.

Right: Marcopolo’s aim is to make bus transport safer, more comfortable and more efficient.

for passengers and driver.”

Designed along the traditional Viaggio and Paradiso lines, in their different versions the Generation 8 was developed for the leading OEM bus chassis manufacturers, with the first models leaving the Marcopolo assembly lines this August from the Ana Rech unit, in Caxias do Sul, southern Brazil.

“Marcopolo always seeks to create innovative and truly valuable transport solutions for customers, passengers, collaborators and business partners,” explained Marcopolo CEO James Bellini.

“Generation 8 is a representation of this purpose.

“A concept designed to make buses safer, more comfortable, more efficient and more profitable.

“Our goal was to design a vehicle capable of transforming the travel experience,” he confirmed.

BEHIND A NAME Generation 8 stands out for its striking appearance, following the Marcopolo design DNA that values the fluidity of lines, clean and modern design to convey a sense of speed and lightness,

the company says. The five-year project was on the premise of offering attributes of excellence to operators, drivers and passengers, it adds.

The distinct dark window panels starkly cascade down like a waterfall from along the top decks to the lower front. The signature look of the flanks. The panoramic windscreen front melds down gracefully, looking clean and unobtrusive to viewers inside and out, it would seem.

The rear? Well, what was that Sir-Mix-A-Lot song again? Yes, that one.

Collaboration and carefully thought-out integration between Marcopolo’s design, engineering and industrial operations was key.

“We seek to bring buses as close as possible to the automotive concept in standardising the manufacturing and assembly processes,” emphasised Luciano Resner, director of industrial operations at Marcopolo.

“The result is a bus focused on quality and profitability for the operator, comfort and connectivity for passengers, as well as ease of maintenance and repair.”

Interestingly, where other companies – of any product, really – might introduce something new with an immediate cessation of the prior line, the successful and current G7 line (launched in 2018 and busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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COVERSTORY

MARCOPOLO G8 SERIES

in action in about 80 countries) will still be in Marcopolo’s arsenal – with no immediate end date suggested in the slightest yet.

Weird and counterintuitive?

To some this may seem the case – usually – yet, to do so arguably strikes as Marcopolo having confidence in itself, its product lines and the coach segment as a whole in a pandemic-stymied world, and that can only be applauded from a bus fan’s point of view.

With “customer satisfaction and appreciation” always in

mind, the current road bus lines and the new G8 will continue in production and sales, receiving updates and innovations, he explains.

“With strong efforts to optimise industrial processes, it will be possible to maintain the production of both lines simultaneously.

“Thus, we will be ready to increase Marcopolo’s share in the markets where we are already present, in addition to generating opportunities in new markets,” Resner points out.

Marcopolo has created a family of vehicles that show an 11 per cent improvement in drag co-efficiency.

Above, Left The seating was redesigned with optimised leg space and more comfortable seats.

Left: To understand the passenger experience, engineers travelled by bus in different areas of Australia.

Opposite, Top: Improvements in aerodynamic design means reduced fuel consumption.

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DRAG QUEEN The R&D and creative thinking behind a bus like this can never be underestimated – and to outsiders it is often under-appreciated.

Long distances bring fuel consumption, cost efficiencies and greenhouse emissions to the fore and Marcopolo has created a family of vehicles that show an 11 per cent improvement in drag co-efficiency, it states.

Also on the list? Passenger comfort, of course. In this regard for the interior ‘experience’ of the G8, about 100 company engineers travelled by bus in all regions of the country, in total covering more than 44,000km to understand the different needs and preferences of customers, Marcopolo says.

Everything was under scrutiny: width and spacing between seats; circulation inside the vehicle; length of stay on board; and use of electronic equipment, it confirms.

The result? Changes were made, such as the access stairs with wide steps,

indirect LED lighting and a new design for the door opening system, which is more efficient and robust, it claims.

To expand the interior space and better accommodate passengers and luggage, Marcopolo worked on different fronts, it says. The seats gained a new structure and ergonomic design, optimising leg space, while a new way of distributing the foam composition of the seat and backrest was also adopted – with the to ensure even more comfort and support, it states.

And as we all know what a hassle seat reclining can be, for those sitting front and back, these seats now offer smoother activation, allowing numerous positions according to the user’s biotype.

Very cool.

SUSTAINABILIY As clichéd as the term is these days, sustainability is being looked at for all products and services now to levels of minutia not seen before, no doubt.

In terms of the G8’s body construction, one of the company’s priorities was to reduce the use of fiberglass by a

massive 80 per cent, replacing it with raw materials from special polymers used in the manufacture of bumpers, front grills and back covers – among other components – resulting in lighter and more resistant parts, Marcopolo confirms. The upshot is these parts offer greater flexibility and impact absorption, and can be easily repaired or recycled, it explains.

It was thought process and care factor that manifests itself not only throughout this special coach design, but also to the impact it has on the very people putting it together and using the bus.

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COVERSTORY

MARCOPOLO G8 SERIES

customers and products in the market.”

PERFECT POSITIVITY

We think now is perfect timimg for Marcopolo to launch the Generation 8 range. making standards of quality to buses, processes at its Ana Rech division were optimised, the company says. This included using welding machines with inverters and the use of gas for less impact on the operator and the environment, providing a reduction in energy consumption, it explains.

LOCAL WELCOME

Above: The panoramic windscreen provides an excellent field of vision for drivers.

Right: All the necessities for a longdistance ride.

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The new Marcopolo G8 range has drawn high praise from local subsidiary Volgren, with CEO Thiago Deiro telling ABC magazine the launch of the Generation 8 range of vehicles comes after years of hard work and represents a milestone moment for Marcopolo’s global network.

“The thousands of hours invested in the G8 vehicle range has resulted in one of the most innovative group of coaches in the world,” Deiro stated.

“In addition to the outstanding design, the G8 sets new standards for safety, comfort, connectivity, handling and ergonomics. All of these factors combine to deliver a memorable

experience for passengers and drivers, one they will not have encountered before.”

Deiro says the new products come at a significant time in the history of the bus market.

“The coach and charter markets have been badly affected by the global pandemic. That’s true in Australia and it’s no different in South America and other markets where Marcopolo’s vehicles are being operated.

“The Marcopolo Group has factories all around the world and we have been working collaboratively and supporting each other to get through this difficult time.”

Deiro adds that, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Volgren remained in a solid financial position and would keep investing in Australia.

“We are determined to continue creating more local jobs and supporting all our

Volgren’s national sales manager Yuri Tessari says Volgren remains positive about the coach and charter market returning to pre-Covid levels.

“That’s why Volgren launched the New Audace 1050 in Australia earlier this year, and it’s why we think now is perfect time for Marcopolo to launch the Generation 8 range,” he explained.

“There is a clear, pent-up demand in most countries due to constant restrictions that have prevented people from traveling for the past 18 months.”

Tessari says the current restrictions and uncertainty about a post-Covid world is having an impact on all bus markets around the globe.

And this is a reality affecting many players in the industry, including supply chain and local body builders in Australia.

“With Marcopolo’s support, Volgren remains a great Australian manufacturer, offering innovative solutions, and constantly enhancing our products’ technology.

“Our aim is to make certain we are offering the world’s best transport solutions, and providing our customers with support and products that are always improving.”

Volgren and Marcopolo will continue to explore the coach and charter market and develop local supply opportunities, Tessari confirms.

ABC August 2021 busnews.com.au

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06/09/2019 09:49 17/8/21 10:39 am

OPERATOR

KERTON INVESTMENTS

DRIVIN’ THE DREAM

Trevor Kerton runs a small school bus operator service in East Gippsland, Victoria. Coming from a farming background, Kerton’s move into the bus industry was a decision made out of a yearning for a new pace of life. He truly found his calling here.

WORDS ANJALI BEHL IMAGES GRAEME NEANDER 40

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E

very profession has good days and bad. Some days we are chuffed just to do our job and other days perhaps not so much and keep sneaking peeks at the clock to see if it is time to go home yet. How refreshing it is to meet someone whose love and enthusiasm for their profession is borderline unreal.

Trevor Kerton is one such person. He is the owner and operator of Kerton Investments, a small bus and charter business based in Bairnsdale in the Gippsland Lakes region of Victoria.

One of the things that came across many times during our interview was

Kerton’s genuine admiration of people involved in the bus industry. Anyone who chats with him for more than a minute about the bus industry will be able to feel his passion.

Kerton has been running his business since 2018, having purchased two school contracts from a local bus operator at the time. He has been loving every part of this job ever since.

It was quite a change of pace for Kerton when he moved into this profession, having worked in the vegetable farming industry for more than 25 years.

After deciding to move on from the farming sector, he started driving

buses part-time for a while for some local operators before applying for accreditation and setting up his own business, he explains.

He currently operates school and charter work out of the Gippsland region, sharing the driving duties with another casual driver while managing all the operational and administration side of affairs by himself. He has three back-up drivers for support and uses the services of two local mechanics for all workshop needs.

“I entered the bus industry based on lifestyle choice after coming from a round-the-clock physically laborious profession,” Kerton explained. busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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OPERATOR

KERTON INVESTMENTS

“I knew some people in the bus industry before I started and, from what I was told, I thought it was an extremely wonderful sector to be involved in.

“The vegetable growing industry is without a doubt a great industry to work in, but my own experience in the bus industry takes the words ‘loving your work’ to a whole new world. I couldn’t be happier.

“It is such a joy to see the camaraderie of people and how everyone here is helping each other out. The hospitality and friendliness of people involved – from chassis makers, to salesmen, to mechanics – is just fantastic.”

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FLEET Kerton currently has three buses in his fleet, including a shiny new Mercedes-Benz OC 500RF with an Irizar bus body.

The Benz-Irizar is an upgrade on Kerton’s ongoing Public Transport Victoria (PTV) contract. Kerton took delivery of the new luxury bus in March and has been thoroughly impressed with its performance.

“My experience with Brad Schultz at Irizar Asia Pacific and Paul Kennedy at Mercedes-Benz Australia was exceptional,” he said.

“From when we ordered the bus right through to delivery, their service and feedback was fantastic.

Moreover, the handling of this bus and the smoothness of the ride is extraordinarly good. It is such a pleasure to drive it.”

The Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz OM 457, six-cylinder engine delivers 264kW and 1,600Nm. The ZF-Servocom 8098 steering and the ZF EcoLife transmission combines to provide a very smooth drive, Kerton added.

This Irizar body and Benz chassis make sure driver comfort is key, with features like adjustable seat and steering wheel, driver armrests, electric window and blinds, a microphone attached to the seat, reverse camera, internal view camera, a dashboard USB, a fridge in the dash and

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I entered the bus industry based on lifestyle choice after coming from a ’round-theclock physically laborious profession.

Opposite: Trevor Kerton operates Kerton Investments in Gippsland, Victoria.

Top: The Italian leather Sege 403X passenger seats have a recline option and two USB ports.

Above: This new addition to the fleet is used for school runs around Bairnsdale.

Left: The ZF-Servocom 8098 steering and the ZF EcoLife transmission combine to provide a very smooth drive.

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OPERATOR

KERTON INVESTMENTS

The people you meet, the people you deal with on a day-to-day basis, everyone is so welcoming and helpful in so many ways. dual-zone air conditioning for optimum driver and passenger comfort.

The Italian leather Sege 403X passenger seats have a recline option and two USB ports and

Above: Kerton Investments has been operating since 2018.

Right: The Benz-Irizar is an upgrade on Kerton’s ongoing Public Transport Victoria (PTV) contract.

Opposite: The brand new Mercedes Benz OC 500RF with an Irizar i6 body.

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a phone pocket at the back of each seat. Meanwhile, safety features in the chassis include radar advanced emergency braking, lane departure warning, anti-lock braking

system, traction control system, electronic braking system with brake assist, electronic stability programme and a fire-detection system in the engine compartment.

OUT AND ABOUT The Benz and other buses do school runs between Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Nowa Nowa and Lake Tyres Beach. The Benz goes to Bairnsdale each morning and stays there during the day before coming back to Lakes Entrance in the evening, he explains.

Meanwhile, the other buses service school runs in Lakes Entrance and then go to Nowa Nowa and the Lake Tyres Beach region. Kerton leases a local yard in Lakes Entrance for overnight storage of buses. For the Benz, he uses a Bairnsdale-based operator’s depot between daily school runs, he confirms.

Kerton’s day starts early, leaving the Bairnsdale depot around 6.30am and commencing school runs from

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7.30am. After the morning drop-offs are finished, he washes and cleans the buses before coming back to the office for some admin work.

The afternoon school runs and drop-offs finish before 5pm.

After locking the buses in the yard, the team heads home.

“I absolutely love being part of this industry,” he said.

“The people you meet, the people you deal with on a day-to-day basis, everyone is so welcoming and helpful in so many ways. Looking at other transport sectors, I think the bus industry is not as cut-throat and people are more united and busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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OPERATOR

Above The Euro 5 Mercedes-Benz OM 457, sixcylinder engine delivers 354hp (264kW) and 1,600Nm.

KERTON INVESTMENTS

very obliging. Being a business owner and operator I feel I can control my own destiny and I also love the flexibility of time management.”

COVID IMPACT Kerton is one of the lucky operators whose business managed to remain largely unaffected by the rolling lockdowns and ever-changing restrictions due to Covid-19.

Being a school bus operator

46

I feel I can control my own destiny and I also love the flexibility of time management. in a regional setting means his buses have to operate every day, he states.

“It has been a challenge in the sense that the dynamics are changing frequently and that’s perhaps the biggest thing but, overall, we haven’t missed a beat.

“We still run as normal every school day, whether there are kids there or not because we have to run services for emergency workers and children who are deemed vulnerable or would be otherwise unsupervised at home.

“So, the dynamics have changed now but it is still business as usual. We, of course, have to do a bit more cleaning

and sanitisation of buses during these times but that is not a big deal because, at the end of the day, we are providing an essential service to many and we have a job to go to, so we’re really lucky in that.”

Kerton has a few plans up his sleeve for the future growth of the business but, for now, he is content just focusing on the school bus side of things. Expanding services will come at some stage but not until it seems like a sustainable move for the business, he admitted.

“At the moment the heart is set at getting more school bus contracts when they become available. It is certainly the biggest priority for this year.”

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INTERVIEW

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MICHEL VAN MAANEN

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WHAT’S NEXT? As the newly appointed CEO of Nexport Mobility, Michel Van Maanen was gracious enough to chat with ABC magazine after arriving in Australia from his native homeland of Holland.

The former joint chief commercial officer and chief operations officer (CCO/COO) at Dutch e-bus-making innovator Ebusco, Van Maanen has taken up the role at Nexport to oversee its vision to implement advanced e-mobility products and infrastructure ecosystems throughout Australia, promoting its goal of ‘educating and advising the market’ as the zero-emissions transition here pushes through.

Bringing years of comprehensive experience with him, founded on a range of roles – most pertinently at Transdev with multiple exec roles worldwide – Van Maanen speaks exclusively to ABC magazine about where we are at with e-vehicles now, what’s on the radar soon and how the full evolution will take place in the near future and beyond.

WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES COURTESY OF NEXPORT

ABC: Hello, Michel. Thanks for taking the time to chat with ABC magazine. Firstly, congratulations on your new role and welcome back to Australia! So … how did you connect with Luke Todd and how was the experience in getting here during a pandemic-stymied Covid world? Was your new role a long time discussed, or was it a faster proposition? And is it where you pictured yourself, say, 10 years ago?

competent management team…

On top of that I was fully convinced

So, with that came automatically looking into new technologies like

all the pioneering work of Nexport in

autonomous vehicles, customer

creating the necessary zero emission

applications, MaaS [mobility as a service]

breeding ground, and relaunching local

and innovative emission technologies for

clean-tech manufacturing in Australia is

fleets and cars.

the right way forward for the Australian vehicle industry.

We actually just came out of

This means that, within Transdev, we were always aiming to do things differently than our competitors, to

homeschooling and restricted travel in

be able to win tenders, improve services

Europe and were happy to go into the

for our customers or improve the

two-week quarantine here, knowing

bottom-line.

that after that we would finally live in a

This, with my background in Apple,

MvM: Hello Fabian, thanks for taking

‘Covid-free’ environment again. The day

always motivated me to work on

the time and interest in the necessary

we left the hotel on the 26th of June, the

‘disruption’ and ‘upstream technologies’.

transition to zero emission transport of

government announced the restrictions

So yes, I am not surprised at finding

people and goods in Australia. When

in Sydney, where Nexport is based.

myself in Australia, trying to create and

I secured Ebusco in becoming an

It is a tough one, especially for my

accelerate this new market with the challenges it faces.

established company, we also had to

kids and wife, and business whilst it

set-up Ebusco Australia, so I came across

remains difficult to have real ‘face to face’

the same people as in my time with

encounters. We have two factories and

highlighted that this transition calls for

Transdev Australasia and discovered your

workshops in Victoria, which I have not

cooperation in the supply chain from

beautiful country again. And, to put it

been able to visit, for example.

energy suppliers, charger suppliers

simply, I became homesick and that,

10 years ago, I was discovering the

I think my experience in Europe has

and the operators, all the way up to

combined with the huge opportunities

world of public transport and travelling

cooperation with technology providers

in Australia and clear vision of Luke,

all over the world (I have been in

and competition. This to make sure we

attracted me to come back. After

functions for Transdev in Holland,

bake this zero emission cake carefully

discussing with my wife and two young

Portugal, Hong Kong, Qatar, Paris

and it doesn’t burn, before we start

kids, who reacted with a ‘yeeehaaa’, I

and US) and was always looking for

talking about who get’s what piece.

started the visa process and handed

performance improvement on contracts,

over my tasks in Ebusco on to their fully

fleet optimisation and end-customers.

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MICHEL VAN MAANEN

stakeholders to make sure we

offer the acquisition of land, build and

prepare the ecosystem for handling

maintenance of a fully operational bus

the deployment of these ‘trams’ (EV

depot, analysis and connection to the

buses and cars behave the same like

grid, and deployment of chargers and

trams and need the same dependent

a supporting energy storage solution,

infrastructure), being dependent on the

secured by a full project deployment

new electric fuel and disruptive handling

plan of the related buses.

of operators and end-customers.

All this is done by local suppliers and supported by building the buses

MvM: I am maybe a bit different than

and standardisation to result in the

and related services at a local plant

other CEOs, because I believe in a more

successful deployment of the first used

in the region, offered as a total cost of

operational inclusion of CEOs in the day-

cases are the key words that I preach

ownership proposition supported by

to-day business. I don’t like defending

internally and externally.

Australia’s biggest bank.

business models if I don’t understand

Education, cooperation, integration

The difference with contract models

As we see this is where the

the needs of the people delivering the

in public transport, the government’s

markets, our clients and government

dominance in that and the lack of

stakeholders are heading, we have

incentive programs from the same

shifted our organisation from a

as low as possible in the organisation and

governments to stimulate [the uptake of]

distributor and build company

minimise the push from the top. I believe

electric cars implies longer deployment

into a service delivery technology

in bottom-up problem solving and want

and speed of rollout, unfortunately.

company, focused on operational

my management team to understand all

competences, application competences

the processes, opportunities or possible

private partnerships or commercial

and technical competences on the

‘waste’, in order to then support the

consortia to support and accelerate the

assets, the related aftersales and

organisation in solving it themselves,

‘infra before asset’ mindset.

deployment services, supported by

not dictating to them by top-down

applications to manage and measure

governance.

We would like to stimulate public-

Recently, Nexport submitted its first

50

ABC: Michel, what is it that you, as a person, uniquely bring to this role? What is it that makes you different that will help make you great at Nexport? What are your best business qualities and what are your flaws?

full turnkey consortium proposition to

performance during the complete

the Canberra government, where we

lifecycle of the car or bus.

products or services.

I always try to put the responsibilities

I think this typically works well in companies that need incremental

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TRIVIAL PURSUIT 1. SONG STUCK IN YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW...

A song called ‘Le vent nous portera’

by Noir Desir – It’s a French song and it means: ’The wind will carry us’ 2. LAST GREAT PLACE YOU VISITED...

Balmoral Beach in Sydney, close to home, because we cannot travel for the moment 3. A FAVOURITE DISH...

A nice chicken sandwich from Oporto, close to our plant in Glendenning where I work every day 4. A FAVOURITE DRINK...

A nice Australian red wine called “Pepperjack”, which I drink after another day of working with great colleagues 5. IF YOU COULD CHANGE THE WORLD YOU WOULD...

Balance out the big difference between rich and poor and make the future of our planet and the next generation a top priority 6. SOMETHING THAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF TODAY...

Reflect more often, and this interview made me do that 7. THE ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IS...

My beautiful wife, Laura, my son, Adem, my daughter, Levi and my MacBook :)

This transition calls for cooperation in the supply chain from energy suppliers, charger suppliers and the operators. growth in their journey of becoming

quality is to energise teams to assure

an established business, by adapting

they themselves carry the company

to changing circumstances but staying

forward without being pushed.

flexible and flat.

My flaw is that I am really impatient

8. YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT IS...

Writing an application letter long ago where I started the letter with “Dead Steve”, because of a typo (the letters ‘r’ and ‘d’ are really close to each other on the keyboard) and only found out during the interview!

water, waste, energy and later cargo.

The cargo division transformed into a public transport company and was later merged with Transdev. I was asked

and get frustrated too quickly when

to transfer from the energy division

operational demands, we need to make

obvious benefits are not embraced

to the transport division to apply

sure our clients and suppliers are guided

and adopted.

the same performance optimisation

In this market, with disrupting

methodologies all over the divisions.

in the right direction by knowledge floating throughout our entire company and not just the CEO selling a vision to the press.

It is a ‘boots on the ground’ approach. Working locally with different maturity levels across the states and

ABC: Michel, what got you into buses in the first place? Was it something that you just grew into as a kid, or from your work during the latter part of your career?

What’s the ‘bus appeal’ to you?

So, for me, the buses/trains/cars were actually just a component in the services we need to procure and manage as part of our total cost of operation and therefore I got to know all of the ins and outs of the specifications, build process, future operational daily management,

supporting this transition at all levels of our company, as well as the related

MvM: After Apple, I came to work

stakeholders as an integrated service

in a French company called Veolia

And, as Transdev was also one of

team, will make this journey a success.

Energy, part of Veolia International,

the biggest taxi and rail companies in

consisting of specialised companies in

Europe, I gathered the same knowledge

I think my biggest business

servicing and contracting of it.

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on cars, vans, minibuses and rail assets.

In rail, typically the asset procurement comes much later than the engineering

challenges for the bus and coach industry going forward in both Australia and also globally?

of the ecosystem that supports it and

Unfortunately, we have not seen many gatherings of the industry happening, but if Covid calms down I

this is a 100 per cent similarity with

MvM: I just hope, like I said before,

would like to see round table sessions

everything we will encounter now in this

that we will see cooperation happening,

happening and not just individual

zero emission landscape.

so that we will establish industry

presentations from ‘visionaries’.

I also believe that the financing

standards and successful deployments

This industry needs subject matter

of these sort of transitions will have

from us, the competition and related

pushed gatherings where we roll up

parallels and we therefore need to start

suppliers in every element of the zero

our sleeves and establish open minded

modelling new creative funding models

emission ecosystem.

breeding ground meetings, to discuss

in a broader shared responsibility model between operators, grantors and OEMs.

ABC: How do you see your first year going? What are your ideas and plans? What do you see as the key 52

defending fossil fuel usage.

I hope charging suppliers (like

cooperation and knowledge sharing on

Tritium and Evie) and energy suppliers

servicing our B2G, B2B and B2C clients

will soon find ways to speed up the

in a seamless journey towards brighter,

rollout together with us, to enlarge

cleaner and more silent cities. Nexport

the electric fuel landscape and take

CARES (Clean, Accessible, Reliable,

away this blocking anxiety to keep

Emission-free and Safe) about the

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the zero emission ecosystem, Foton has,

And, to be clear: the potential

like other current and future car, van or

newcomers are not looking for a simple

bus OEMs, made the logical choice to

distribution model, but the future

choose Nexport to represent them in

models we bring to the market will

sales, engineering, building, deployment,

always be complemented by the full

aftersales and parts distribution for

cycle of local (re-) engineering, technical

hydrogen and electric buses for the

analysis, chargers, energy provisioning,

coming years.

deployment and lifetime aftersales and

With Foton, we know we have found the right partner in bringing Australia

parts supply.

ADL fits that profile, like others we talk

the experience of the hydrogen

to, as ADL also has a broad experience

ecosystem, which for us is a solution in

overseas in making sure a bus is delivered

specific states or regions where it makes

in a broader spectrum of supporting

sense logistically or in terms of green

assets, applications and services.

availability.

With Neil Wang as the leader in our

As you might have seen quite prominently all over social media, we are

Foton product line, being the former

also offering end-customer products via

CEO of Yutong we gained a ‘green world

www.EVdirect.com.au, which will change

of knowledge’ as he has worked on

car use in Australia for individual owners,

multiple used cases in this field.

fleet-managers for corporates and

Neil is also using his experience to support the build of our clean-tech

current and new ‘pay per use’ models.

We think corporates, for example,

manufacturing plant in Moss Vale, where

will be asked to lead by example with

we will create more than 100 jobs over

their corporate mobility policies for

time, to start local production of EV

their employees, management and

buses and (logistic) trucks with an 18.000

parking facilities to reinvent and rethink

square metre production capacity, to live

the way people come to work (shared

up to our statement: ‘Relaunching local

mobility?), service cars and related

competences and create the future jobs

amenities on the job to reduce ‘miles

needed for Australia to stay ahead of its

on the road’.

zero emission ambitions’.

Also making sure people are healthy and fitter could increase green bikes and

ABC: Nexport has strong connections to BYD, of course, plus Gemilang here from a body

pedestrian solutions. Nexport is using a green resultancy methodology to broaden the scope of green behavior and

The challenge for the vehicle industry, in my humble opinion, is to transform from a commodity supplier to a service provider. point of view thus far, plus it has just announced a partnership with ADL. Is that where it ends or is their scope for Nexport collaborations with other OEMs?

hopes to lift the awareness in analysing

in the past, to any client expecting them

MvM: Nexport has always positioned itself

to just implement or use it as before.

in the middle of the mobility landscape

ABC: To what extent do autonomous e-buses play a part in Nexport’s public transport e-mobility plans here? Is that something we would see within the next, say, two years or is that tech (from anyone) still on hold until greater government assistance is shown towards charging infrastructure rollout; 5G-driven (EMF radiation emissions concern?)

transport of people and goods.

The challenge for the vehicle industry, in my humble opinion, is to transform from a commodity supplier to a service provider, where the new

and recommending improvements for these business, including current clients, stakeholders and governments;, via the idea of ‘improve the world; start local’.

assets cannot be simply handed over, like

and, as our clients are greenifying, they

ABC: What are your views on alternative fuels for buses?

How is the connection to Foton going? How did they come about and why?

are looking into all solutions to reduce their carbon footprint, so we are talking to OEMs across a wider range to provide the market with logical green choices on cars, vans, (delivery) trucks and buses, together again with the related

MvM: As we are basing our organisation

assets and services to make these assets

around the delivery competences in

functional.

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MICHEL VAN MAANEN

charged (example: Rocsys EV charging automation), washed and ready to go.

Like I have tried to explain above, Nexport believes the way to go forward is ‘infra before assets and supported by integrated applications’.

For EV bus, truck and car applications (including transport on demand and MaaS) it is always about two major key performance indicators; uptime (availability) and patronage/load. So, how reliable is the application of the vehicle and the supporting assets and what load or number of people does it need to carry?

On those two we need to find the efficiency to reduce the carbon footprint; the right number of vehicles, the right size of vehicle and the related infrastructure to support the reliability, managed by the right applications to continuously improve the ratios between occupancy (load and cargo) and assets. When this is the mindset, we can really start looking at total cost of operation and don’t overspend when not needed. The second largest investment by a consumer is a car and it is not used for 96 per cent of its lifecycle. It can carry four people and the average occupancy is 1.2 and 50 per cent of every city is a carpark. In public transport a bus can carry 65 people in Australia but the average

As our clients are greenifying, they are looking into all solutions to reduce their carbon footprint.

IoT inter-vehicle communication advancement; plus traffic hazard liabilities and safety legalities are addressed and formalised?

struggling with this for a long time, because it means a lot of data mining and data management, which then needs to be based on agreed definitions

occupancy is eight. We can do better than that.

A lot to do, and Nexport is ready.

Cooperate and think different…

ABC: Thanks so much for your time. Do you have any final words about Nextport’s vision to facilitate e-mobility in Australia and what needs to be done to overcome key challenges?

between stakeholders.

MvM: I have always stated that before

MvM: I just sincerely hope we start

data control can be managed properly

seeing mobility as a factor of critical

you need to control electric mobility to

and daily operations (the operational

elements to integrate and not as a sum

the full extend first.

control centre) can manage this in a

of individual services. Nexport sincerely

predictive way, we can go to the next

offers cooperation and an open attitude

control and management to assure

step, which, in my view, will first be an

to create future jobs, help the industry

range, charging and safety control

automated depot that can then be used

transform, support more livable cities

on the batteries we need to develop

for autonomous buses to navigate and

and just make this world a better place

standardisation on communication

charge around the depot.

to live and work.

As electric assets need real time full

between the different vehicles and

54

If this overlaying application set and

anything autonomous will hit the road

Then, in the morning, when drivers

I also want to thank you, Fabian,

assets first. That needs a lot of work,

start their routes, they get appointed

in showing interest in this inevitable

5G support and secured management

a bus digitally, geofencing will let

transformation of the industry and

network control, with cooperation

them know where the bus is stationed

hope to see more ‘future technology

between the different suppliers. In

and inside the bus they will get their

companies’ appearing in your great

public transport they have been

routes and rosters. The bus will be fully

magazine and online platform.

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SUPPLY LINES

ELECTRIC BUSES

IT’S ALIVE!

The future is here, with fully electric propulsion the next revolution in technology to hit the transport world, it seems. With the current push to make operations more ‘sustainable’ and reduce air pollution in our urban areas, major manufacturers are now unveiling their takes on electric buses and Aussie and Kiwi operators are starting to put them on the road.

As with all new technology, there will be challenges to overcome, not least of which the infrastructure required to support an electric bus network. There’s also the general republic’s response to a far quieter vehicle than they are used to when navigating busy roads. After worries were raised by a university report into the potential for pedestrian collisions once more electric buses are on the roads, specialists stepped forward to assuage fears by outlining the additional safety technology built into these high-tech machines. Audible pedestrian warning systems, for example, can be used to alert people surrounding a bus, particularly those who are blind or partially-sighted. Collision warning systems can also alert the driver through using cameras to track pedestrians and cyclists in front of the bus, if somebody gets too close.

With projections that 90 per cent of Australian bus fleets will be electric by 2050, this is an exciting time for manufacturers and operators to shape how electro-mobility will look. On the following pages are some of the most recent developments in this space here in Australia.

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VOLVO ‘BZL’ E-BUS CHASSIS ON TRACK Volvo’s forthcoming BZL electric bus chassis is due for release locally in 2022.

T

he BZL project has been a thorough and rigorous undertaking, and is still currently under development for local conditions, at a time Volvo Bus Australia (VBA) celebrates 50 years of operating in Australia this year.

“As we look to our next 50 years in Australia, we are excited to further embark on our journey towards electro-mobility,” says Mitch Peden, VBA general manager.

“Our S-Charge [hybrid] product has already demonstrated great success and we are eager to see our awaited BZL revolutionise our product offering and electro-mobility efforts,.

“Our BZL project has been a thorough and rigorous undertaking, but we are confident that, with nearly a decade of electro-mobility experience, this process is one that is worth waiting for and seeing through properly.”

SOLID SUPPORT According to the company, having the only dedicated bus team in Australia, with more than 300 years of combined industry experience, is something it is very proud of – and that has helped propel the company to where it is today in celebrating five decades in the Australian market with 11 consecutive years as the market leader in 2021.

Notable dedicated bus team staff include Ray Andrich and David Woodward, who have been with VBA since 1992 and 1995, respectively.

To date, regional sales manager Andrich and national competency manager Woodward have remained dedicated to their area of expertise and have become recognised as industry stalwarts – keeping the spirit and passion for the bus and coach industry alive and well, VBA states.

By combining a diesel engine and an electric battery, with energy that is captured through braking regeneration (and the engine), the readily available B5L S-Charge delivers significant fuel savings as well as the ability to run in electric-only mode at bus stops, in depots and in defined zero-emission zones, VBA confirms.

This model also has the capacity to operate on up to 100 per cent biofuel, all whilst producing a lower carbon footprint than many grid-charged electric vehicles, VBA explains.

VBA’s electro-mobility team – led by product manager, Asia Pacific region, Dean Moule – is working hard to ensure the BZL chassis, a robust Swedish product, is properly adapted to the Australian market to best suit customer needs, it says.

TRANSPERTH DEAL In another announcement for 2022, Volvo tech in a Volgren body will be first seen in Transperth’s CAT bus system early next year.

Four e-buses with 2.5m-wide locally-made Volgren bodies will be part of Volvo’s existing 900-bus supply agreement

signed in March 2019 with Western Australia Public Transport Authority (PTA) operator Transperth.

The Volvo-PTA agreement includes provisions for the introduction of alternative-powered vehicles into the Perth public transport bus network when the technology became available in Volvo’s Australian bus product line, explained Volvo.

“We are excited to be partnering with PTA in Perth for our first electric buses in Australia,” said David Mead, vice president Volvo Buses Asia Pacific and acting general manager for Volvo Buses Australia.

“Our relationship with the PTA now spans over a decade and in years to come the city of Perth will indeed be a Volvo city with 100 per cent of the bus fleet being Volvo.

“Volvo’s contract with PTA included a technology roadmap that allowed PTA to access diesel, self-charging electric and battery-electric vehicles over time.

“PTA can access the variety of tools available to them and match the technology to the route and need,” Mead explained.

We are excited to be partnering with PTA in Perth for our first electric buses in Australia.

HYBRID SUCCESS Arguably one of the most notable products to date has been the Volvo B5L S-Charge.

First released in 2013, this hybrid vehicle revolutionised the product direction of VBA in being the first in its electro-mobility range and delivering the first hybrid technology of its kind in South Australia, it states. busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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SUPPLY LINES

ELECTRIC BUSES

BUSWAYS RECEIVES FIRST CUSTOMDENNING ELEMENT E-BUS

I

Sydney-based operator Busways received the first of an order of six Custom-Denning Element electric buses in June 2021.

n keeping with the NSW government’s plan to electrify the state’s bus fleet by 2030, Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance says the Element electric bus, built by Custom Denning, will be the first electric bus ‘entirely manufactured’ in NSW. “We are another step closer to creating a greener, cleaner and healthier future for the people of NSW, thanks to Custom Denning manufacturing electric buses at its factory in St Marys,” Minister Constance said.

“Busways has already placed an order for six new electric buses from Custom, and I look forward to many more local bus companies taking up the opportunity to support local manufacturing and local jobs,” he explained.

Custom Bus Group (Custom Denning) managing director Scott Dunn says Custom has been building buses in Sydney for more than 65 years, and has

built more than 700 diesel buses for the NSW government during the past 10 years.

“There are currently 12 people working on the electric bus project; however, we have the capacity to build around 400 buses each year in our current factory and this could create more than 300 jobs,” said Dunn.

“The Element electric bus will be able to operate for around 22 hours on a single four-hour charge, and are cheaper to maintain and operate than their diesel counterparts,” he said.

“Busways was Custom Denning’s first non-government customer and we have been buying high-quality, reliable buses from them since 1958,” said Busways managing director Byron Rowe.

“We’ve been trialling the Element bus in the Penrith area for the last month and we are excited to be receiving our first order in the coming months,” he explained.

More than 60 new electric buses will be introduced on bus routes operated on behalf of the NSW government this year, TfNSW confirms.

Electric buses are already operating in Sydney’s inner west and south west, as well as in the Hornsby and Sutherland regions, it states.

ADL PARTNERS WITH NEXPORT British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and Australia’s Nexport have entered into a supply agreement to bring a range of zero-emission buses to the market.

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haring a common global bus industry link via the use of Chinese BYD electric bus chassis, the agreement would see Nexport – an Australian owned supplier and producer of electric buses – assemble bodies from the Alexander Dennis Enviro family on BYD chassis for the Australian market.

Nexport will also lead the customer sales and service relationship, it confirms.

ADL and BYD’s electric vehicle partnership has been a great success in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, where they have delivered and taken orders for more than 1,000 batteryelectric vehicles.

The supply agreement will bring a range of new locally assembled electric bus products, providing bus types that are currently not available to local bus operators in Australia, the entities explain.

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The first of the range released will include a 9.7-metre electric city bus, as well as 11.6-metre and 12.5-metre models, they state. The first buses are targeted to be on the road in early 2022 with volume production to be underway by the end of that year, they confirm.

Nexport CEO Michel van Maanen, stated: “This agreement will be another significant boost to the Australian manufacturing renaissance.”

“We are delighted to partner with Alexander Dennis, who have been extremely progressive in the zero-emission bus space globally.

“For Nexport to be able to partner with such a strong global company further demonstrates our business objective to bring the world’s best zero-emission mobility technology to our shores - and manufacturing the products locally, by Australians.”

ADL president and managing director Paul Davies, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Nexport in the Australian market as we believe that our globally renowned buses can help deliver the country’s decarbonisation agenda.

“This agreement with Nexport fits perfectly with our model of manufacturing close to our customers, supporting highly skilled local jobs and developing skills in green technology while adding value to local economies.”

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BUSTECH E-BUS NSW ‘PANEL 3’ APPROVED Bustech Group’s ‘locally designed, engineered and built’ ZDi 450 electric bus has been admitted to the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) procurement ‘Panel 3’, presently making it, “…the only Australian bus company locally manufacturing zero-emission buses for the NSW market.”

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n being the first “Panel 3-approved Australian vehicle for NSW”, the Bustech Group also states it has a new Newcastle, NSW-based production facility in development.

The Bustech Group’s 12.5-metre ZDi 450 e-bus – built to “…accelerate the future of clean, efficient and emission-free transport solutions for NSW and Australia while also ‘harnessing domestic capabilities’” – will use Proterra Powered supplied batteries, it explains.

A Bustech spokesperson told ABC magazine its first-gen ZDi (latest-gen pictured) ADR-compliant vehicle is “in operation here in Adelaide” (Adelaide Metro confirming that set-up uses Toshiba batteries) and in Dubai and that its second-generation Proterra ZDi (450) will be in operation in QLD and NSW in Q4 this year. The first ZDi 450 Panel 3-compliant buses have already commenced manufacture.

buses in 2021, and ultimately planning to convert all 8,000 buses in its fleet by 2030.

CUMMINS PARTNERSHIP

“Our admission to the NSW procurement panel reaffirms the Group’s commitment to delivering the next generation of zero-emission connected transit for the NSW market, giving a real choice for domestic product versus international import models,” said Christian Reynolds, executive chairman of Bustech Group.

Last December, the NSW government committed to transition its entire bus fleet to zero emissions within the decade, starting with 120 electric

Bustech and US commercial vehicle global giant Cummins will also partner to offer a unique ‘one bus, three powertrain options’ bus to futureproof operator fleets.

In essence, the landmark-concept agreement would mean a bus operator could use the same Bustech body and frame for its 25-year-plus life cycle, but have it use either a Cummins diesel, Cummins ‘zero-emissions’ fully battery electric, or Cummins hydrogen fuel-cell power option.

The agreement provides for initial units to be developed for both battery electric and fuel cell electric, with plans to ramp up production late 2021 and early 2022, respectively, according to Bustech and Cummins.

YUTONG E-BUSES IN QUEENSLAND Queensland’s first fully electric urban bus route has been operating in the Lendlease planned community of Yarrabilba in Queensland since November 2019, via a South Brisbane Logan Coaches-run service.

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Yutong-manufactured 40-seater E12 bus operates on a Logan Coaches continuous loop from all Yarrabilba stops along Yarrabilba Drive to Loganlea, Logan Hyperdome and as far as Beenleigh.

Yutong’s E12 electric bus features 12 batteries, with overnight charging delivering a driving range of up to 380 “noise-free” kilometres, it states.

Assistant general manager of Logan Coaches Robbie Harrop said at the bus service’s launch: “The introduction of a state-of-the-art fully electric bus to our fleet represents an important milestone for our company and we are delighted to take a lead in environmentally friendly public transport.

“We started looking at the technology in late 2018 and would like to acknowledge the ongoing support and

input of Lendlease, as well as Yutong for supplying the bus.

“Apart from the environmental benefits, the bus will be cheaper to run.

We anticipate the on-road operating cost will be between 75 and 80 per cent less in comparison to an equivalent diesel-powered bus.”

KEY FACTS: • T he fully battery-powered bus can carry 40 seated passengers and 20 standing and has a driving range of between 350 and 380 kilometres, it’s claimed; • Several USB ports have been fitted to allow passengers to charge electronic devices; • The bus is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible with a middle door for additional access; • Internal and external cameras have been fitted for safety purposes;

• A port at the front of the bus connects to a charging station similar in appearance to a petrol bowser. One charge is sufficient for the vehicle’s 12 batteries to deliver a full day of driving, it’s claimed.

• The absence of a transmission ensures a smooth ride through all speeds, the company states. Under braking, the Yutong bus also delivers a small amount of charge to regenerate the batteries.

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SUPPLY LINES

ELECTRIC BUSES

ZF DRIVES ELECTRIC INNOVATION ZF and the word ‘technology’ have been intrinsically linked for decades because, from the very beginning, that is what ZF has done – develop, manufacture and deliver innovative technology to the world’s automotive manufacturers.

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hether it is passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, or buses and coaches, ZF technology has been central to the safety, performance and efficiency of these vehicles for generations.

And in the e-Mobility space, ZF’s years of research and development continues to place it ahead of the competition.

“For over 100 years, ZF has globally developed a reputation as a leader in automotive systems, and has subsequently been at the forefront of the move towards electrification in the commercial vehicle segment,” said Shane Trenbath, technical services manager, ZF Services Australia.

“What makes ZF unique is that the expertise for all of the different components of the EV system are available from a single source, which truly sets us apart.”

THE NEXT STEP The AxTrax AVE portal axle has already been installed in over 2,200 electric buses globally, which have subsequently travelled around 150 million kilometres with zero-emissions.

Local Oceania manufacturers including BusTech Group in Australia, as well as Zemtec and Global Bus Ventures in New Zealand, have selected AxTrax AVE in their designed chassis, with trials commencing shortly.

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The system can be utilised in numerous configurations, including pure electric buses, hybrid buses and trolleybuses, in both solo and articulated wheelbase configurations, with energy provided by battery, fuel cell, supercapacitor or mains supply.

Instead of a traditional driveline featuring an engine, transmission, prop shaft and a differential, the AxTrax AVE features a compact electrical engine installed within what would typically be the hub of the wheel.

Providing high-torque output, the system keeps weight low, while also saving space.

The system utilises regenerative braking, which tops up battery stores while saving on service brakes, with the overall system containing fewer moving parts that in turn simplifies the maintenance task.

Tuned specifically for each installation, the AxTrax AVE system features an inverter and the ZF EST 54 control unit, which manages power requests, recuperation and energy storage needs.

ZF CETRAX DRIVE SYSTEM For manufacturers looking to integrate an electric drive system into their conventional vehicle designs, the CeTrax is a recent addition to the ZF range, opening up a host of installation options.

Bus manufacturers can utilise the system in both low-entry and high-floor

applications, as well as for low-floor buses in combination with the AV 133 portal axle.

With a maximum power output of 300 kilowatts and a top torque figure of 4,500Nm, CeTrax has the performance to overcome the toughest terrain.

Featuring tried and proven components from the ZF-EcoLife city bus transmission, the CeTrax is lighter and more compact than combustion engine options, all while allowing for the use of standard axles and common differential ratios.

THE WHOLE PACKAGE ZF’s OE range for buses and coaches features a vast catalogue of parts, from driveline, to steering, brakes, chassis and electronic components.

Transmissions include the proven EcoLife and AS Tronic, as well as TraXon. Aftermarket components from ZF and its LEMFÖRDER, SACHS and TRW brands include the CDC electronic damping system, individual dampers, ActivMode and EV Series power steering pumps, clutch and dual mass flywheel systems, and electronic control units.

There is also a myriad of parts including steering systems and chassis, axles, clutches, brake components and lubricants.

Further details are available at zf.com/ au, or by calling 1800 ZF SALES (1800 93 72537).

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BCI CITIRIDER EV STARTS NSW’S INTERLINE 10 E-BUS ROLL-OUT The first electric bus for Sydney’s South West region – a BCI Citirider EV run by Region 2 operator Interline – was put into operation in February this year, with the NSW operator aiming for a 10-unit total throughout 2021.

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he ‘quieter and cleaner’ bus journeys in Sydney’s south west will see Interline’s new electric BCI Citirider EV bus initially operate on routes 859 (Carnes Hill to Edmondson Park) and 858 (Oran Park Town Centre to Leppington), Transport for NSW confirms.

The BCI e-bus is capable of running for up to seven hours on a full charge, TfNSW explains.

NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance says it is one of more than 50 new electric buses being delivered across Sydney this year.

“Five electric buses have already been trialled in Sydney’s inner west and now it is time for customers in the south-west to start reaping the benefits of this amazing technology,” Minister Constance stated.

“We are one step closer to creating

a greener, cleaner and healthier future for the people of NSW, with inner-west customers and staff already giving us positive feedback about the quieter journeys.

“The NSW government is committed to transitioning its 8,000 diesel buses to zero-emission technology, and I have previously set Transport for NSW

maintenance and operational costs.”

Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons said it was exciting to see the NSW government’s electric bus vision becoming a reality.

“Commuters in south-western Sydney will now get to enjoy the benefits of electric bus technology. It’s really great to see it reaching our local

The BCI e-bus is capable of running for up to seven hours on a full charge. the goal of electrifying the fleet by 2030.”

Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves added: “The new electric buses are not only better for local commuters’ health and the environment, but they will also save taxpayers money on

streets, and everyone will notice the difference,” Gibbons said.

“These buses are better for our health, the environment and they are much quieter than their diesel counterparts, which is a big win for commuters and residents alike,” she added. busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

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SUPPLY LINES

ELECTRIC BUSES

ABB UNDERWRITES E-BUS TRANSITION TRUST

As the world rapidly moves towards an e-bus revolution in public transport, electric vehicle charging expert ABB is on hand to ensure success for its bus operator partners.

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f you are a bus operator and concerned about the electric bus transition in Australia and how to successfully navigate it, these are valid feelings and concerns given all the aspects that need to be covered – and that’s where partner trust comes in.

There is much that needs to occur, all the way from e-bus choice, battery longevity and driver training up to a charging infrastructure point of view to ensure the success of your EV fleet. So, trusted experience from companies like ABB is key.

Just as you can’t grow a healthy, bountiful fruit tree overnight, you need to get the groundwork right; fertile soil, good location, plenty of sun and nutrients for energy will form the solid basis for productive long-term growth.

Bus fleets are no different. And as ABB is a premium source-to-socket EV charging infrastructure expert with a trusted reputation few can match, you will find it harbours years of well-rounded e-bus experience and know-how to help you navigate a range of e-fleet issues that will inevitably cross your patch.

Sounds scary? It can be. And you wouldn’t be alone in seeing it that way, but fear not, as it needn’t be. In fact, embrace it. This is a very exciting time in public transport and bus mobility.

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As a globally recognised e-charging partner to many successful e-bus projects worldwide – none closer than the future-shaping infrastructure delivery project for Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority, which will be the state’s first electric bus trial – ABB has honed its skillset to ensure all bus operators it aligns to are best placed to exceed, not just meet, the high standards and benchmarks needed for electric bus success.

RAPID PACE Fleet excellence through advanced electric vehicle solutions is absolutely achievable.

Of that, ABB is sure. Yet, there are things that bus operators need to think about – and fast!

The global move towards electric vehicles is happening at a pace the automotive industry has never seen.

Right now, technologies are sometimes even outstripping the readiness of wider infrastructure. Within this arena, fleet operators face the task of balancing a practical, present-day business case with a proactive, long-term vision, it states.

Along with offering environmental benefits, an electrified fleet will also translate to lower total cost of ownership, benefitting fleet owners.

By 2030, EVs can have a total cost of ownership that is 15 to 25 per cent less than that of equivalent vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), according to McKinsey. The drivetrain of an EV includes fewer parts, compared with an engine of an ICE vehicle, leading to the requirement of less periodic maintenance and lower costs.

Simultaneously, the cost of electricity is lower and more stable compared to diesel.

Furthermore, switching to an electric fleet can be carried out in phases with a scalable and modular solution. By evolving the fleet to electric in this way, fleet owners can start to see the benefits of the total cost of ownership of EVs while keeping the initial investment low.

TAILORING CHARGING SOLUTIONS As technology for EVs continues to improve, it is becoming easier to transition.

However, it is essential to evaluate some parameters before making the switch to get a clear visibility of how the transition will take place and the benefits on offer.

Because buses follow fixed schedules and routes, there is no unpredictability around range. The first step is to identify the routes that the EVs will take, the type of EVs for the fleet and the portion of the fleet

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that needs to be electrified. Based on these parameters, fleet owners can determine their charging and energy needs – addressing key factors for an effective charging infrastructure.

The anchor decision is the bus charging strategy – because efficient recharging reduces electric bus operating costs. There are three main types: • D epot charging (typically overnight running at relatively low power levels for longer (10–150kW) • Terminal charging (typically day-time for less than two hours) • En-route and on-board charging (requiring DC chargers operating between 150kW and 600kW).

Performance is the driving force of fleet operations as it underpins an organisation’s ability to live up to its service commitments, ABB explains.

At the heart is reliable, advanced charging and energy solutions able to deliver that certainty.

ABB helps customers define the right charging solutions for maximum fleet efficiency and productivity, with the backing of 99 per cent uptime as well as modular service solutions, it states.

Cities that are seeing the greatest success from their e-bus set-up are using a hybrid approach to these charging options. They are also looking at it holistically and planning for the full range of forces that impact performance and cost.

It is also important to consider the electrical grid infrastructure needs of a new EV fleet. Fleet owners can transition in phases, wherein the first phase can include a smaller number of vehicles. This will also allow fleet owners to gather insights from the first phase of conversion and prepare for the next phase.

ABB’s unique perspective across the electrification technology value chain means it gives customers greater performance, flexibility and confidence as they make their e-bus transition, it says.

Importantly, ABB adds that it, “…places charging logic at the core, connecting factors such as vehicle type and battery capacity with considerations such as route characteristics and passenger needs.”

Importantly, these decisions are

tightly linked to an organisation’s operating priorities, challenges and opportunities, enabling ABB’s team to guide both capital and operational savings by taking a holistic, and whole-of-life, approach.

FLEXIBILITY Looking at a customer’s operational requirements today and into the future helps ABB maximise an operator’s e-bus flexibility, it says.

That is, with the benefit of interoperable technologies, fewer decisions are ‘locked in’ and limited.

Instead, ABB’s range of products is fully compliant with international standards and validated by numerous original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – that’s fact.

Additionally, they are scalable, future-proofed products – particularly acknowledging the reality that many first-time transitions to electric vehicle fleets form part of a much wider fleet.

ABB says it can help customers navigate macro- and micro-infrastructure decisions to lengthen the value of their investment. Team analysis and advice on the right mix of solutions and specifications, ready to be deployed quickly, creates a platform for immediate rollout and ongoing growth, it adds.

In all, ABB connects customers with leading electric vehicle technology to meet diverse operating priorities, it confirms.

Fleet excellence through advanced electric vehicle solutions is absolutely achievable.

CONFIDENCE Finally, it’s all about confidence – and that’s something you deserve.

ABB’s leadership in charging technology innovation is supported by more than 100 years of expertise in energy and power distribution – that’s pretty hard to look past.

This reputation in electrified solutions is why ABB is proudly associated with prestigious global brands; that means OEM backing from manufacturers that regularly turn to ABB as their partner of choice.

The charging expert’s wider network provides its customers with powerful connections across the value chain – like utility providers that deliver grid capacity and power-demand insight; consultants skilled in critical assessments such as depot and route infrastructure analysis; designers who work up detailed plans for implementation.

Ultimately, this breadth of providers that know and trust ABB, paired with ABB’s own expertise in optimising vehicle charging solutions, enables fleet operators to truly maximise value.

Top Left + Above: The global move towards electric vehicles is happening at a pace the automotive industry has never seen.

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SUPPLY LINES

ELECTRIC BUSES

FIRST AUSSIE-BOUND EBUSCO E-BUSES ON TRACK

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hile the first 39 units of Ebusco’s lightweight 3.0 electric bus have been confirmed for use in their native Dutch homeland in 2022, the first of the new Australian-delivered 2.3 e-buses are due to land here end 2021, local sources confirm.

Acompany spokesperson confirmed Ebusco will now be doing so outright itself, with the first new 2.3 variant landed before the end of 2021. They highlight that only the impact of Covid thus far had affected the logistics of testing the 3.0 in Europe during the past 12 months, along with the finalisation of what will be the first Australian 2.3 e-bus due here soon

(then it will be SKD kits using local content for the 3.0).

The investment by Transdev Netherlands in the Ebusco 3.0 represents significant confidence in the Ebusco product,” said Ebusco’s Australian director Simon Pearce.

The final spec of the 3.0 for the Australian market is yet to be confirmed.

MAN ELECTRIC TECH ON THE HORIZON

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n Europe, MAN’s e-bus tech and stylish body design is winning it all sorts of awards and plaudits from within industry. MAN’s local distributor Penske Australia has now confirmed it expects MAN’s Lion’s City E bus here no later than 2025.

Penske Australia’s Brisbane-based head of MAN Bus and Coach, Crinel Geaboc, who explains to ABC magazine that bringing such a product out to market here has been greatly influenced by ensuring the latest optimised battery technology is successfully married to the overall Lion’s City E12 and E18 plan.

“The Australian EV bus is yet to be named, but will have the same specification as our highly successful Lion’s City 12E in Europe, using 480kWh NMC batteries developed internally by MAN.

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2000 MERCEDES O405 Volgren body, Lowfloor, 2-door, AC

$115,000 + GST

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ABC-HH2-5129255-TS-408

2004 MERCEDES O500RF

2002 IVECO

2010 SCANIA K320

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Higer A30, 57 Seatbelts, Auto, A/C, 385,000km

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2006 HINO RK260

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360,000 KMS

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$120,000 + GST

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2016 BONLUCK “SENATOR 9”

2009 ROADMASTER AUTOBUS

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2012 SCANIA K310IB

2005 MERCEDES O500RF

2013 MAN 18-290

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2016 ISUZU FTS800 4X4

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clean,travelled 351,000klm

automatic, 30 passenger lap sash seat belted seats, Thermo King A/C, UHF, travelled approx.

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Untitled-15 67

67

17/8/21 11:46 am

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12.5 metres long, iShift 12 speed transmission, 46 McConnel Seat belted Reclining Seats plus Guide and Driver, Coach Concepts High Deck Body, Two Doors, Toilet, Driver Bunk, TV/DVD, Thermo King Air Conditioning, Reverse Camera, UHF, Bullbar, Drive Lights, Urn, Only 770,000km, Full maintenance History, Current SA Reg and Inspection. Flagstaff Coaches has owned this vehicle since new and is in very good condition. Near New Tyres. $195,000 plus GST

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Untitled-15 68

ABC AUGUST 2021 busnews.com.au

17/8/21 11:46 am

Comfort, convenience and capacity The D12 series Yutong is the world’s largest bus manufacturer – combining technology, design and reliability to deliver consistent quality and longevity in mind – to provide a transport experience you can trust.

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17/8/21 11:46 am

DELIVERIES

JULY 2021

July deliveries unable to maintain recent momentum Market sees a slow start to the new financial year, exclusive ABC data reveals.

W

hat goes up must come down, as the saying goes, with Australian bus and coach deliveries following that mantra in July after June’s yearly high.

The context here is the turn of the financial year, with 114 deliveries at the end of the last one, and only 69 to start the new one; a number comparable to the lows of last year’s market contraction as the Covid-19 pandemic took a hold around the globe.

This decline is reflected in the chassis sector by Scania’s trajectory, which saw a yearly high of 44 in June and 11 in July. Volvo, meanwhile, recorded a carbon copy 29 deliveries, aided by a 10-unit fleet order by Busways Pacific. Mercedes-Benz was the only brand to see a significant month-on-month increase, from six to 15.

A change-up in the bodybuilding sector saw Bustech at the top, which jumped from 10 deliveries in June to 18 in July. Next up was Volgren, recording 16 deliveries, down from 20

the month prior. Custom Bus followed on 12, with 10 of those coming via the Busways/Volvo order.

One constant in the air-conditioning sector is Thermo King’s lead, and it occupied a whopping three quarters of the market with 50 deliveries. The next name on the sheet was Hispacold, recording seven deliveries.

New South Wales was the busiest jurisdiction in July with 38 per cent of deliveries. Queensland followed on 22 per cent, with Western Australia on 19 per cent. Victoria, which has often led this section, fell back to fourth with 17 per cent.

Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for June. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, at their discretion.

A change-up in the bodybuilding sector saw Bustech at the top, which jumped from 10 in June to 18 in July.

70

ABC August 2021 busnews.com.au

ABC_408_070-71_Bus Deliveries column FC.indd 70

17/08/2021 10:43:57 AM

Bustech 18 Volgren 16 Custom 12 Irizar 6 Yutong 5 BLK 4 BCI 2 Coach Concepts 1

SALES BY BODY

Coach Design 1 Express Coaches 1 Global Bus Ventures 1 Omnibus 1 TOST 1

4% SA

38% NSW

17% VIC

A change-up in the bodybuilding sector saw Bustech at the top, which jumped from 10 deliveries in June to 18 in July. Next up was Volgren recording 16 deliveries, down from 20 the month prior.

Custom Bus followed on 12, with 10 of those coming via the Busways/Volvo order.

%

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER

One constant in the air-conditioning sector is Thermo King’s lead, and it occupied a whopping three quarters of the market with 50 deliveries. The next name on the sheet was Hispacold, recording seven deliveries.

Percentage by

REGION

Thermo King 50 Hispacold 7 Cling-Yutong 5 COACHAIR 3

Spheros Denso N/A

2 1 1

19% WA

22% QLD

VOLVO 29

MERCEDES-BENZ 15

SCANIA 11

Sales by chassis

MAN 6

This decline is reflected in the chassis sector by Scania’s trajectory, which saw a yearly high of 44 in June and 11 in July. Volvo, meanwhile, recorded a carbon copy 29 deliveries, aided by a 10-unit fleet order by Busways Pacific. Mercedes-Benz was the only brand to see a significant month-onmonth increase, from six to 15.

YUTONG 5

BLK 3

busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

ABC_408_070-71_Bus Deliveries column FC.indd 71

71

17/08/2021 10:44:18 AM

DELIVERIES

JULY 2021

BLK

MAN

ENGINES

TRANS­M

UNITS

MANUFACTURER, OPERATOR & LOCATION

CHASSIS

Fallons Wangaratta

VIC

1

MAN President 2

BLK

360

R

Euro 5

A

Westside Christian College

QLD

1

Senator 8

BLK

210

R

Euro 5

A

Pursers Coaches

QLD

1

Senator 9

BLK

300

R

Euro 5

A

Kinetic/Skybus

VIC

1

LE.19.330.RC2.E6D

Global Bus Ventures

330

R

Euro 6

A

Surfside Bus Lines

QLD

3

LE.19.320.RC2.E5

Bustech

320

R

Euro 5

A

SA

1

CO.26.500.RR4

Irizar

500

R

Euro 5

A

Adelaide Coach Lines Fallons Wangaratta

(Model)

BODY BUILDER

HP*

Rear / Front

Emissions standard

A: Auto M: Ma AS: Aut O: Opti

VIC

1

IC.19.320.RR8

BLK

320

R

Euro 5

A

MERCEDES-BENZ N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Bustech

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

VIC

1

OC500RF E5 1936

Coach Concepts

360

R

Euro 5

A

SCANIA

VOLVO

N/A

VIC

1

O500RS

Irizar

348

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

WA

1

OC500RF E6 1936

BCI

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

WA

1

OC500RF E5 1936

Omnibus

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

QLD

1

OC500LE E6

Volgren

360

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

NSW

1

OC500RF E5 1936

Custom

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

VIC

1

OC500RF E5 1936

BCI

360

R

Euro 5

A

Christians Bus Co

VIC

1

K 310 IB4X2

Coach Design

310

R

Euro 5

A

Dept. Public Transport Infrastructure

SA

2

K 320 UB4X2

Bustech

320

R

Euro 6

O

Edwards Coaches

NSW

1

K 310 IB4X2

Express Coaches

310

R

Euro 5

A

Irizar Asia Pacific

QLD

1

K 360 IB4X2

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

N/

Irizar Asia Pacific

VIC

1

K 360 IB4X2

Irizar

360

R

Euro 6

A

Irizar Asia Pacific

NSW

1

K 360 EB4X2

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

O

Nowra Coaches

NSW

1

K 320 UB4X2

Custom

320

R

Euro 6

A

Ventura Bus Lines

VIC

1

K 360 UA6X2/2

Volgren

360

R

Euro 6

A

Ventura Bus Lines

VIC

1

K 360 UA6X2/2

Volgren

360

R

Euro 6

A

Ventura Bus Lines

VIC

1

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Organ's Bus Service

VIC

1

Volvo B8R

Irizar

330

R

Euro 5

A

John Lucas

WA

1

Volvo B8R

Tost

330

R

Euro 5

A

Perth Transport Authorities

WA

5

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Perth Transport Authorities

YUTONG

WA

2

Volvo B8RLEA

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Buslines Group

NSW

4

Volvo B8R

Bustech

330

R

Euro 5

A

Busways Pacific

NSW

10

Volvo B8R

Custom

330

R

Euro 5

A

Fearnes Investment

NSW

1

Volvo B8RLE

Bustech

320

R

Euro 6

A

Kellam Bus Lines

NSW

3

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

R

Euro 5

A

J&B Thompson

NSW

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

R

Euro 5

A

Linq Buslines

NSW

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

NSW

1

D7

Yutong

160

F

Euro 5

A

N/A

NSW

1

D7

Yutong

160

F

Euro 5

A

N/A

WA

1

D12

Yutong

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

WA

1

D12

Yutong

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

WA

1

D7

Yutong

160

F

Euro 5

A

TOTAL DELIVERIES 69 72

ABC August 2021 busnews.com.au

ABC_408_072-73_Bus Deliveries Table FC.indd 72

17/08/2021 11:44:03 AM

NUMBER OF SEATS

APPLICATION

issions andard

A: Automatic M: Manual AS: Auto-Shift O: Opticruise

AXLES

TRANS­MISSION

BODY LENGTH

uro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5-13.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

X

–

uro 5

A

Allison

2

8.9

Spheros

37

–

–

–

–

–

uro 5

A

Allison

2

9.8

Spheros

43

–

–

–

–

uro 6

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

X

–

–

X

–

TRANS MAKE

(metres)

SEATING

SEAT BELTS

X

Sege

Y

X

Fainsa

Y

–

X

Sege

Y

–

X

–

Vogel

N

–

X

–

Styleride

N

Sege

Y

AIR-CON (Brand)

Fixed Coach

Recliners

Metro

Long Distance

Charter

City or Route

School

uro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

uro 5

A

ZF

3

10-12.9

Hispacold

–

X

–

X

–

–

–

–

–

X

–

–

uro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

X

–

Sege

Y

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

–

–

–

X

–

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

Styleride

N

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

Styleride

N

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

–

–

–

X

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

45

–

uro 5

A

ZF

2

13.5

Thermo King

57

–

uro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

N/A

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

N/A

N/A

uro 6

A

ZF

2

13.5

Thermo King

73

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

13.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

N

uro 6

A

ZF

2

13.5

COACHAIR

44

–

–

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

13.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

13.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

Y

uro 6

O

Scania

2

12

Hispacold

–

–

43

–

–

X

–

Precision Bus

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

uro 5

N/A

N/A

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

APM

Y

uro 5

O

Scania

2

12

Hispacold

–

47

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

–

–

53

–

–

X

–

Custom Bus

N

–

–

uro 6

A

ZF

3

18

Coachair

–

70

–

X

–

McConnell

N

uro 6

A

ZF

3

18

Coachair

–

–

70

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

–

44

–

–

X

–

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

–

McConnell

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

–

–

–

–

–

X

uro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

57

McConnell

Y

uro 6

A

Voith

2

10.0-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

41

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

uro 6

A

ZF

3

10.0-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

X

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

55

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

Y

–

–

–

–

uro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

57

–

X

McConnell

Y

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Denso

51

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

uro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

Y

uro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

–

–

–

–

–

X

uro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

57

McConnell

Y

uro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

28

–

–

–

X

–

–

Yutong

Y

uro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

28

–

–

–

X

–

–

Yutong

Y

uro 5

A

Allison

2

12.4

Cling-Yutong

57

–

–

–

X

–

–

Yutong

Y

uro 5

A

Allison

2

12.4

Cling-Yutong

57

–

–

–

X

–

–

Yutong

Y

uro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

28

–

–

–

X

–

–

Yutong

Y

*Bustech Group comprises Bustech, Elphinstone and Precision Buses. Volgren’s count includes any units from its partnership with Supportrans.

busnews.com.au August 2021 ABC

ABC_408_072-73_Bus Deliveries Table FC.indd 73

73

17/08/2021 11:44:24 AM

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Untitled-5 76

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