New Zealand family-owned transport and tourism company Tranzit Group has kicked off the Bus and Coach Association of New Zealand’s (BCA) annual conference in Auckland this week with a bang, unveiling a new double deck electric bus.
The three-axle electric bus has been designed by Tranzit Group’s team of specialists, with the chassis built in China through bus partner CRRC and the body built in Malaysia through partner Gemilang.
Tranzit Group says the model is believed to be the first of its kind after modifications were made to a similar prototype that landed in NZ last year.
The model is on display at the conference this week before it then heads down south to service passengers on the BUSIT network run by Waikato Regional Council.
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It will soon join Tranzit’s other fleet of single deck electric buses already in operation connecting people from the towns of Cambridge and Kihikihi to Hamilton.
Tranzit Group director of transport and operations Keven Snelgrove says the brand is excited to be launching the bus at the conference.
“We are excited to be introducing brand-new double deck electric buses into Waikato later this month and then more into Auckland next year,” Snelgrove says.
“They will help provide a quiet, safe, comfortable and smooth service for our passengers as well offer extras such as being able to charge their phones as they travel. The extra seating will also help future proof the routes as patronage grows.”
The vehicle is the first of 26 of the same double deck model that Tranzit is bringing into NZ as part of its contracts with Waikato Regional Council and Auckland Transport.
Featuring 508kW of CATL batteries and more than 350kms of range on a single charge, the buses have a capacity for 80 seated and 20 standing passengers along with a wheelchair space.
Passengers will be able to use wireless charging and USB A and C ports onboard, while extra natural light has been designed into the stairwell alongside more grab handles.
The buses operating in Waikato will be charged at Tranzit’s depots operated by Waikato Regional Council, while buses running on the WX1 route in West Auckland from April 2025 will be charged at Tranzit Group’s new Auckland depot located near Westgate.
Tranzit says its introduction of 26 electric double deckers and 18 single deck buses, alongside significant charging infrastructure investments in Auckland, showcase its commitment to decarbonising its bus fleet.
This follows Tranzit introducing NZ’s first 100 per cent electric bus fleet in the Horizons Regional Council earlier this year, with 43 electric buses operating in Palmerston North.
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