A report on the trial of a Volvo Hybrid bus in Wellington earlier this year says customers liked the quiet operation, drivers enjoyed the smooth ride, and the bus company loves the decreased fuel bill.
Wellington Regional Council’s Sustainable Transport Committee is considering the trial report ahead of calling for tenders in July for bus operators to compete for the new partnership contracts within the region.
Newlands Coach Services trialed the Volvo B5RH bus on some of its busiest Newlands and Churton Park routes for four weeks in January and February.
“Customers loved the look of the modern, bright and distinctive bus and commented on how quiet it was,” says Newlands Coach Services chief executive Ian Turner.
“Taking into account the challenging Ngauranga Gorge route, the unusually warm weather which required more air conditioning and the large passenger numbers with people returning to work after the New Year break, we were impressed with how the bus performed,” he says.
“It covered about 5,400kms and used 40% less fuel than other buses that operated the same routes during the same period,” says Turner.
Paul Swain, Chair of the Sustainable Transport Committee, says the results are encouraging, in light of the Council’s plan to include hybrids in the transition to a fully electric bus fleet.
“Hybrids are clearly a great stepping stone to a fully electric bus fleet – this trial has shown they’re clean and quiet,” says Swain.
“We’re aiming for Wellington to lead the country with a fully electric bus fleet when the technology is mature and affordable. In the meantime, we need to modernise the existing fleet, and our plan includes some hybrid buses,” he says.
“We’ll be going out to market in July calling for tenders for new partnering contracts for the region’s bus services,” says Swain.
