The GoZero Group, including Nexport, has received $80 million of funding from Commonwealth Bank (CBA) in asset finance facilities.
The financing is being used in part to source and replace existing diesel school charter coach services with electric buses for independent Sydney schools including Queenwood, Knox Grammar and Scots College.
The transition to electric buses servicing schools is done through GoZero’s charter business, North Sydney Bus Charters (NSBC), with GoZero having plans for the rapid expansion of its electric bus charter services in 2024.
“There has been an increased appetite for electric buses in the school market,” GoZero CEO Stephen Cartwright says.
“Schools are not only interested in reducing their carbon emissions, they also want a healthy and safe environment for students. With zero fumes and all coaches being seat belted, the GoZero electric coaches help with the overall health and wellbeing outcomes for students.”
Founded in 2020, GoZero is a leading manufacturer and integrator of zero-emissions solutions and vehicles for business and government fleets. The funding will be a key part of GoZero’s GreenSchools1000 initiative, with the company aiming to introduce 1000 electric coaches to service Australian schools.
Research by The Australia Institute says buses make up just 0.5 per cent of Australia’s registered vehicles while accounting for up to six per cent of key air pollutants, with its emissions equivalent to the ACT’s total annual emissions.
CBA major client group NSW general manager Jane Thomson says this emissions issue presents a significant opportunity for decarbonisation by replacing Australia’s bus fleet with zero-emissions buses that use electrification technology available to reduce the overall carbon footprint.
“CBA is proud to be part of GoZero’s electrification initiative. As Australia’s leading business bank, we’re committed to supporting businesses, projects and assets that will drive our nation’s transition to a brighter, more sustainable future,” Thomson says.
“Financing GoZero’s electric coaches is one of the many ways we’re delivering on our Sustainability Funding Target and supporting mid-market companies with progressing toward their net zero ambitions.”
CBA’s commitment to supporting customers with its sustainability transition is reflected in the bank’s 2030 Sustainability Funding Target (SFT). As part of the SFT, CBA aims to deliver $70 billion in cumulative funding across a range of sustainable industries and asset types including renewables, energy efficiency, low carbon transport, commercial property, land and agriculture, waste management and sustainability-linked lending.
GoZero Group will be featured at Commonwealth Bank’s third sustainability conference, Momentum: Accelerating Australia’s Transition, to be held on March 12 at the Sydney International Convention Centre.
CBA’s Momentum brings together leaders across business, government, science and more to share ideas and solutions for accelerating Australia’s transition to net zero.