The introduction of Auckland’s first ever electric double decker bus to its fleet will help the city reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 79 tonnes per year.
Auckland Transport (AT) announced the new addition yesterday, making its 138-strong zero emission bus fleet the largest in New Zealand and the second largest in Australasia.
The bus will primarily service Mt Eden Rd, Great North Rd and Dominion Rd routes, said AT infrastructure and fleet specification manager Edward Wright.
"We are sure our customers will love the experience of travelling on the quieter and smoother bus too."
A regular greenhouse gas emissions inventory by AT for financial year 2021-2022 found that the bus fleet accounted for 79% of the organisation’s emissions – 75,530 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).
An average double decker bus consumed nearly 30,000 litres of diesel in a year, working out to about 79 tonnes of CO2.
The introduction of this electric double decker wouldreduce emissions, on a one for one basis, by 79 tonnes per year.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown joined AT chief executive Dean Kimpton and Kinetic NZ managing director Calum Haslop for a test drive of the new bus in Mangere.
Haslop said the bus had undergone extensive off-road testing, but it was time to test the bus on busy bus routes.
"Of special importance is that the drivers who will be assigned to operating it have also undergone specialist training, which encompasses not only the size of the vehicle, but also its operation as an electric bus.”
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