Kinetic is reaping the rewards of Queensland’s expanded commitment to introducing more electric buses into the state’s public transport network.
Operator Kinetic is partnering with the Queensland government to accelerate the state’s public transport network towards a greener future, expanding its fleet of battery electric buses (BEB) to 26 with a further six new zero-emission vehicles hitting the road on the Sunshine Coast.
In the past 12 months, Kinetic has launched BEBs from Cairns in Queensland’s far north to the Gold Coast in the south east where the greener, cleaner vehicles operate the 777 express service connecting the light rail to the airport.
The latest arrival of new BEBs will bring Kinetic’s zero emission fleet on the Sunshine Coast to 11 as Australasia’s largest bus operator supports governments on their journey to net-zero.
Kinetic Co-CEO Michael Sewards says every month Kinetic’s fleet is growing greener and proving a hit with passengers.
“Zero-emission vehicles are the future of bussing and passengers are fully on board with the change,” he says.
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“Tens of thousands of people have been able to experience battery electric buses since we started introducing them into Queensland almost 12 months ago and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“You’ve got to give people a reason to use public transport. Passengers expect reliable, safe, clean and green buses and they are certainly appreciating the smooth and quiet journey as much as the positive environmental impact.
“BEBs also have a positive impact on the social fabric of our cities by reducing noise and emissions around businesses and high pedestrian areas.”
With Kinetic’s first BEBs in Queensland approaching 12 months of operation in July, the expanding fleet is a sign of life beyond 2025 with the state government committing to a movement where every new bus in South East Queensland will be zero-emissions.
Regional implementation will begin between 2025 and 2030 ensuring Queensland has sustainable public transport infrastructure across the state.
Sewards says Kinetic had committed to operating a 100 per cent zero-emission bus network by 2035.