NEW ZEALAND Government funding of NZD$50 million has been committed to Kiwi councils to help fully 'decarbonise' their public transport bus fleets by 2035, it was announced recently.
The move has been welcomed by global bus-making giant Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and local bus-body builder Kiwi Bus Builders, the companies confirm.
ADL – a subsidiary of North American’s NFI Group Inc. – is to build zero-emission buses in NZ in cooperation with Kiwi Bus Builders, creating jobs and adding value to the local economy, it states.
The funding to councils for the procurement of zero-emission buses is part of a series of measures intended to help meet New Zealand’s 2050 carbon-neutral target, announced by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Transport Minister Michael Wood.
By decarbonising the bus fleet, the country aims to prevent up to 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, it explains.
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ADL recently announced that it will assemble zero-emission buses locally in New Zealand, renewing a partnership with local manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders.
The British company’s electric buses for New Zealand are part of the BYD-ADL Enviro200EV range using latest BYD iron phosphate battery and driveline technology, it confirms.
In addition to two-axle models, the partners will produce 12.6m-long, three-axle electric buses, which ADL has designed for the specific requirements of bus operation in New Zealand by carrying 78 passengers without the requirement of an overweight permit, it states.
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CREATING JOBS
Kiwi Bus Builders managing director Richard Drummond said: “We are primed to kick start the partnership, we have already started the process to create apprenticeships, creating jobs and supporting jobs that have been lost due to the coronavirus. This is in line with the New Zealand Government’s plan to build the economy back stronger.”
ADL president and managing director Paul Davies said: “With a strong track record of innovation and as a member of NFI Group, we are leveraging global expertise in the design and deployment of clean buses while collaborating in close partnership with our customers by tailoring our vehicles to their requirements and assembling them locally. Together with Kiwi Bus Builders, we look forward to helping councils across New Zealand deliver on the Government’s commitments for a sustainable future.”
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ABOUT NFI
Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world, it states.
With zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart mobility solutions, it explains.
Together, NFI is enabling more liveable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation, it adds.
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ABOUT ADL
Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of double deck buses and is also the UK’s largest bus and coach manufacturer, it states.
ADL offers single and double-deck vehicles under the brands of Alexander Dennis and Plaxton, and has more than 31,000 vehicles in service in the UK, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and the United States, it adds.
Photography: courtesy ADL