Kinetic is installing a new overhead gantry charging structure at its City depot in Auckland, marking another step in the infrastructure program behind its New Zealand electric bus roll-out.
The system is the second of its kind in New Zealand and follows the overhead gantry charging system introduced at Kinetic Glenfield, also in Auckland.
Unlike individual ground-mounted chargers, overhead gantry systems run across parking lines, with cables dropping down to connect to each bus. Kinetic says the approach allows more vehicles to charge within the same depot footprint.
At Glenfield, the system is 25 per cent more space-efficient than traditional chargers, creating an advantage for urban depots with limited land.
The City depot installation is a visible sign of a wider infrastructure program that includes depot upgrades, power supply works, maintenance changes, operational planning and workforce training.
Kinetic says that work is central to delivering Auckland Transport’s Tranche 3 contracts, under which the operator will deliver the largest single rollout of zero-emission buses at mobilisation in New Zealand.
The fleet includes next-generation lightweight electric double-deckers designed for New Zealand conditions.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australasia’s bus and coach industry.
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly ABC magazine.
Kinetic says one common misconception about electrification is that it can be treated as a fleet-replacement program. Instead, the operator says fleet deployment, charging infrastructure, depot capacity, power upgrades, operating systems and workforce capability must be ready at the same time.
Power supply work is one of the more complex parts of that process. Connecting a new supply can involve design, network planning assessments, procurement, construction, inspections and testing, with Kinetic and the network service provider needing to align around the same delivery date.
In Dunedin, Kinetic is preparing to introduce 37 new electric buses starting in October. The company says the timeline from contract award to go-live is less than a year, supported by existing relationships with network service providers and consultants from previous projects.
The Dunedin depot infrastructure upgrade will include the South Island’s first overhead gantry charging system, which will be commissioned before the new buses enter service.
Kinetic’s New Zealand electrification program has been built over several years across multiple regions.
Between 2020 and 2022, charging infrastructure was introduced at Penihana Place in Māngere, the City depot in Auckland, the Kilbirnie depot in Wellington and the Birmingham Drive and Maces Road depots in Christchurch.
In 2023, Kinetic opened New Zealand’s first fully electric bus depot at Panmure in Auckland. The following year, Australasia’s largest all-electric bus depot opened in New Lynn, Auckland, with 44 charging stations, each capable of charging two buses simultaneously. Further electrification was also completed at Birmingham Drive in Christchurch.
In 2025, charging infrastructure was introduced at Go Bus Dunedin and Go Bus Invercargill, while the Go Bus Mosgiel satellite depot was fully electrified. The Glenfield overhead gantry system was also launched that year, with the capacity to charge 31 buses simultaneously.
The 2026 program includes Auckland’s second overhead gantry charging system at City depot and the South Island’s first overhead gantry charging system in Dunedin.
Read more:
- ABC launches first episode of Bus News podcast with Michael Baulch
- DTP defends bus data processes in response to Auditor-General report
- Queensland unveils ‘Metro-style’ bus plan for GC
- Dysons set to be acquired by Australasian PT business
- Regional NSW gains 275 extra weekly bus services
