More zero emission Kinetic buses will soon be hitting Melbourne streets, with 137 new vehicles set to join the metropolitan bus network.
The buses will be introduced as part of the Metropolitan Bus Franchise (MBF) contract that Kinetic won, which covers over 30 per cent of the city’s bus network and aligns with the Victorian Government’s Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan (ZEB Plan) that was announced earlier this month.
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Kinetic has already successfully transitioned 37 ZEBs and electrified two depots since the franchise commenced, with these new additions adding to the goal of growing the MBF’s electric bus fleet to 174 over the next 4 years.
Kinetic Group CEO Michael Sewards says he’s proud to continue partnering with the Victorian Government on the transition to zero emission buses throughout Melbourne.
“We are proud to continue to shape the future of Melbourne’s bus network in conjunction with the Victorian Government through a shared investment in zero emission infrastructure, assets and capability,” Sewards says.
“This is also an important step towards Kinetic’s goal to operate a fully electric urban fleet by 2035.
The Kinetic buses that form part of the Franchise will service Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
“Excitingly, over the next four years we’ll see electric buses constitute almost one third of the city’s biggest franchise.”
The new zero-emission buses in the Franchise will be manufactured by key Australia manufacturers, with investment from Kinetic contributing to the creation of new jobs in Victoria.
Kinetic will also continue to develop and deliver enhanced training to maintain the growing fleet of ZEBs within its Melbourne workforce.