Premier Transport Group receives latest hydrogen trial bus in Wollongong.
New South Wales’ latest hydrogen bus will enter service today in the Illawarra as it begins completing Wollongong’s popular free Gong Shuttle loop service.
The bus will start its six-month trial on the Gong loop this week before being trialled on various other routes throughout the Illawarra to test its capabilities.
The bus is built by ARCC in Western Sydney and can drive for 16 hours, covering 515km on just 32kg of hydrogen. In comparison, a similar diesel bus would consume around 170 litres of diesel to travel the same distance.
Jo Haylen, NSW transport minister, says:
We’re committed to transitioning the state’s fleet of 8,000 diesel and gas buses on our public transport network to zero emissions technology.
“That means rolling out electric buses onto roads in Sydney and Newcastle, and trialling technology like hydrogen buses in other parts of the state,”
“It is great to see this new hydrogen bus roll out here today in Wollongong.
“It will provide Transport for NSW with important data needed to inform any future roll-out of Hydrogen technology on our bus and transport networks.”
Data collected from the bus trial will be used by Transport for NSW to make decisions about the best electric and hydrogen technology for the state’s regional bus operators, passengers and communities.
The bus will be operated by Premier Illawarra, covering existing routes in line with current timetables.
The bus will be refuelled at the Coregas hydrogen refuelling station at the Port Kembla Hydrogen Hub.
John King, Premier Transport Group director and BusNSW president, says:
Premier Illawarra is proud to collaborate with bus manufacturer ARCC and Transport for NSW on this innovative demonstration, and give our local passengers a cleaner, greener journey on the Illawarra bus network.
“The convenience of the local Port Kembla Hydrogen Hub gives us a unique opportunity in the Illawarra to lead the way in reducing carbon emissions across our services.
“We’re thrilled to play our part and cultivate strong partnerships between local manufacturers like ARCC, bus operators and the NSW government for the benefit of our communities and passengers.”
The hydrogen bus trial follows a similar testing phase on the Central Coast for the ARCC hydrogen bus for Red Bus Services, which the NSW government says outperformed expectations on the road.
Jenny Aitchison, NSW regional transport and roads minister, says:
It’s exciting to see zero emission bus trials making their way out of Central Sydney, into the Central Coast, now Wollongong and in the future, more regional centres across NSW.
“This demonstration will help Transport for NSW better understand how hydrogen buses perform in the Gong and what infrastructure is needed to then roll them out in more corners of our state.”
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Premier Transport Group receives latest hydrogen trial bus in Wollongong. source