Uzabus has announced the appointment of fleet electrification and battery storage specialist Zenobē to provide end-to-end zero-emissions technology for Uzabus’ new Wellington trial fleet.
The modular electrification solutions includes vehicle and battery financing as well as designing and building the infrastructure, with ongoing operation and maintenance for the batteries and chargers included.
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Uzabus managing director Justin Allan says the technology will be used to trial two new battery electric buses joining the Metlink fleet.
“By partnering with a fleet electrification specialist, we are confident of service continuity,” Allan says.
“When assessing technology partners that could assist in achieving our zero-emissions goals, Zenobē’s commercial model stood out. With established processes that allow flexibility for future scaling, we are excited to accelerate our ambitions and operate a greener fleet.”
Metlink group manager Samantha Gain says the total package offering of Zenobē made it a good choice for the project.
“Zenobē’s expertise and infrastructure are welcome additions to the Wellington Region. Their technology and tech support for Uzabus will help Metlink reach our goal of an emissions free fleet by 2035,” Gain says.
Zenobē Australia/ New Zealand country director Gareth Ridge says the brand’s experience at the Leichhardt depot in NSW made the project lucrative.
“At Uzabus’ Kāpiti depot, we are providing a fully financed end-to-end solution for the electric buses, batteries and charging infrastructure. Financed over 16 years and with a fully managed service, we are helping Uzabus offset the high cost of electrifying through operational savings, enabling them to focus on delivering a reliable, affordable service for their passengers,” Ridge says.
“The way we have structured our commercial model also provides government partners the confidence to scale zero-emission bus rollouts as they embrace the benefits of decarbonising transport fleets.”
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