General News
17 October, 2023
The future is here
THE future of buses in Victoria could be closer than you think.
THE future of buses in Victoria could be closer than you think.
Popes Timboon bus lines has added a temporary addition to its fleet this month.
Business director David Pope said the company had been trialling an C12E bus, which was a full size electric zero emissions bus.
He said the bus was being trialled to see how it would function and what the operating conditions of the electric technology would be like on “our delightful roads”.
Mr Pope said the electric technology was “exciting”.
“It’s really where things are heading and the other reason is the Victorian Government mandated from 2025 we, as bus operators, should be applying zero emission technology,” he said.
“We wanted to make sure we are at the cutting edge of technology and actually can function as a business with this technology and not be caught lagging.”
Mr Pope said electric bus use in regional areas was still in its infancy.
He said he believed school bus services in Victoria would be well suited to the technology.
Mr Pope said the trial was also seeing how practical the technology would be for the business.
“So far it’s been really well received by passengers and drivers alike,” he said.
“As a bus driver it’s great – there’s far less noise, there’s far less vibrations, there’s a much smoother ride, there’s no gear box and no gears so there’s no transitional surge.”
Mr Pope said the investment in new technology could also help attract workers to the industry.
“For me, I look it as a possibility to be able to attract and encourage new workers to come online and attract a whole new sub-group of people who might be interested that may not have considered it in the past,” he said.
“It’s also really exciting to be a part of something that’s really positive for our environment.
“It’s new and exciting.”
Mr Pope said the transition to an all electric fleet would not happen overnight and the company would need to look at options for power sources including solar.
He spent time with the bus at Cobden Technical School, giving students a glimpse of the future last week.
School principal Rohan Keert thanked Mr Pope for the opportunity for students to look through the bus.
“It (the visit) coincided with our VET Automotive class,” he said.
“It’s about exploring the new technologies, there are the generation that will be driving in electric vehicles and working on them.”
Mr Keert said the students were excited to see the bus and took the opportunity to ask lots of questions about the differences in technologies.