AS THE ZERO-EMISSIONS bus trend gains momentum, charging and refuelling provider Electromotiv has increased its headcount in Australia and New Zealand, the company reports.
Adrian Salinas joins the company as operations manager for Australia and New Zealand and Sam Andrist will become part of Electromotiv’s New Zealand arm, working as an economist and analyst, it confirms.
Salinas was previously a senior project officer with the ACT government. In that role he played a pivotal part in the largest fleet-based charging station network installation in the southern hemisphere, a 50-station deployment across 10 different sites, Electromotiv explains. He also has global experience in the automotive sector, having worked for GM in the United States and run hydrogen bus trials in Florida and California, it adds.
Andrist is a recent graduate with an economics major from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He will provide operational support to a growing network of New Zealand customers, the company states. A significant part of his role will be to determine what economic benefits a project provides for operators and government beyond fuel savings, it adds.
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Toby Roxburgh, managing director and co-founder of Electromotiv, says the company had made the new appointments to manage an increasing workload and to inject new talent into the flourishing business.
“These new additions to the team are important because we are expanding quickly. We are involved in an electric bus trial with Transport Canberra; we are close to a 10-bus deal with Transport Auckland and we’re at the final design stage of what will be Australia’s first net zero-emissions bus depot in Brisbane,” Roxburgh said.
“Adrian provides experience in the areas of operations and processes. He’ll provide grounding in good practices and service delivery while making certain that we stay ahead of the innovation curve. Sam is an exciting addition to the team because of his expertise and ability. Sam will have a critical part to play in the Auckland project,” Roxburgh explained.
WELL PLACED
Salinas says he’s delighted to have joined a company at the forefront of zero-emission transport technology in Australia and New Zealand. He sees Electromotiv as particularly well-placed because of the work it’s already done since its establishment in 2017.
“The documented experience of having one of the only electric buses running on regular bus routes in Australia is unique. Electromotiv has been exposed to the real-world requirements of carrying passengers to and from work every day,” Salinas said.
“We have received very positive feedback from patrons of public transport and drivers. This builds on years of demonstrations and trials. Lessons learned have been applied to our current business model.”
GREENER APPROACH
Andrist says he’s looking at the benefit of transitioning to zero-emission transport from multiple angles, and envisions the company’s offering continuing to be well received in his home country.
“New Zealand, historically, has not been afraid to be a world leader on progressive issues, often punching above our weight internationally. As climate change issues have become more and more prominent internationally, New Zealand is adopting this leading role,” Andrist stated.
“I also think that Covid-19 presents a real opportunity to redirect our economies to a greener approach. In countries where coastal living makes up the vast majority of populations centres, like in Australia and New Zealand, it would be short-sighted to invest without a sustainability focus. This will present a real opportunity to be capitalised on for a company like ours and I’m excited to be part of that,” he added.
Photography: courtesy Electromotiv