In September, DIT took delivery of its final diesel-powered rigid bus from Scania. From now on, all deliveries by Scania to DIT for rigid route bus application will be electric-hybrid or full electric powertrains.

“By mid-October this year we will have 24 (Generation One) electric-hybrid buses in service with the DIT public transport system, the first of which has been in service for close to two years,” says Steven Godbold, Government Bus Contracts Manager for Scania in South Australia.

“Now we are preparing for the introduction of our New Bus Generation electric-hybrid, which has almost double the zero emissions range on electric power over the first generation.

“The first of these new buses should join the fleet in November 2022. We are looking forward to ramping up electric-hybrid deliveries into 2023 and onwards. We aim to deliver 51 electric-hybrid buses to DIT during 2023 and around 45 in 2024.

“Concurrently, we are also inbuild with our first full battery electric bus for DIT which is slated to enter an evaluation programme before the end of 2022.

“Introducing the BEV bus to real-world route work in the height of summer will show how easily these vehicles can handle the local climate and working environment,” Steven says.

“DIT and Scania have long been committed to driving the shift towards a sustainable transport solution for route buses in South Australia. Even though diesel-powered buses supplied by Scania since 2015 have been compliant with  Euro 6 emissions standards – a level far above any mandated in Australia – all future deliveries will be far cleaner at the tailpipe, if they even have a tailpipe at all,” he says.

The Scania electric-hybrid bus powertrain reduces fuel burn and tailpipe emissions by around 15 percent and allows silent mode running on approach to and departure from bus stops, providing benefits to pedestrians and patrons by reducing noise and exhaust output at the kerbside.

“When the fully electric buses enter service, they will be almost silent in operation 100% of the time and there will be no tailpipe emissions at all,” Steven says. “And with SA forging ahead with electricity produced from renewables, recharging the buses will also be green and free from carbon emissions.”

“We are proud to be moving to a cleaner, greener public transport fleet, culminating in the scheduled delivery of our first full battery, zero-emission electric bus in December,” says Tom Koutsantonis, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in the South Australian government.

“The State Government received the final diesel, rigid bus delivery from Scania in September, and the upcoming delivery of our first fully-electric bus is another exciting step in zero-emissions public transport.

“We are already operating hybrid electric buses on the Adelaide Metro public transport network. From November 2022, we will add new generation hybrid-electric buses with a significantly increased zero emissions range. This technology is a win for commuters and the environment,” he says.