The McGowan Government is increasing Western Australia’s (WA) electric bus fleet, with the 2023-24 State Budget confirming a $125 million allocation to the program.
The $250 million program, which includes a $125 million investment from the Australian Government, would provide 130 new locally-built electric buses and charging facilities at major depots.
The 2023-24 State Budget will provide an initial $22 million next fiscal year, funded by the Perth Parking Levy, to purchase and build 18 new electric buses and install electric charging facilities at Elizabeth Quay Bus Station.
“Electric vehicles are the future, and this investment will ensure Western Australia’s public transport network is clean and green for our net-zero future,” Premier Mark McGowan said.
Premier McGowan stated that extending WA’s electric bus network is already helping the State cut carbon emissions.
“Importantly, we will build these busses right here in Western Australia — creating local manufacturing jobs and supporting local businesses,” Premier McGowan added.
According to the WA Government, the funding will build on the existing electric bus pilot on the Joondalup CAT route, which has seen four battery-electric vehicles supplied through the Public Transport Authority’s existing bus contract with Volvo to run in the northern suburbs.
“We made a commitment last year to expand our fleet of electric buses, and the $125 million allocation in the upcoming State Budget makes good on that commitment,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.
Minister Saffioti stated that the State Government would invest $250 million over the next few years in collaboration with the Federal Government to deliver roughly 130 new electric buses and for accompanying enhancements such as building charging infrastructure at major depots.
“We have been running electric buses through Joondalup for the last year and the cleaner, greener technology has been popular among passengers. The ongoing success of the trial has allowed us to commit more funding to expand the electric bus program, getting more of this environmentally friendly technology on Perth streets,” Minister Saffioti noted.
The electric quartet is projected to have carried over 250,000 passengers and travelled more than 140,000 kilometres in its first year, saving around 230 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The Joondalup bus depot acquired a high-voltage EV charging system as part of the trial, allowing electric buses to be recharged overnight using a combination of the existing grid network and a 100kW solar array connected to a huge on-site battery storage system.
