Bus fleet goes electric under WA Labor’s manufacturing plan

Western Australia’s bus fleet will transition to locally manufactured fully electric buses under WA Labor, with diesel bus production to be phased out from this year.
  • Re-elected Cook Labor Government to crank up manufacturing of electric buses in WA
  • All new buses manufactured in Western Australia will be fully electric
  • Last diesel bus to be delivered later this year
  • Decision will secure and expand manufacturing jobs as part of WA Labor’s Made in WA plan

Western Australia’s bus fleet will transition to locally manufactured fully electric buses under WA Labor, with diesel bus production to be phased out from this year.

The decision will help grow local electric vehicle manufacturing jobs, and create new construction jobs through major upgrades to depots and facilities with electric charging infrastructure.

Around 100 new electric buses are expected to be manufactured each year to support Western Australia’s public transport network, as part of WA Labor’s Made in WA plan to create the jobs of the future.

In addition to the new electric buses, all metropolitan and regional bus depots will be progressively upgraded with new electric charging infrastructure, with plans to deliver a number of additional depots to support expanded public transport operations.

The commitment comes as the rollout of the Cook Labor Government’s first fleet of electric buses progresses.

The existing $250 million program will see 130 new electric buses manufactured, while electric charging infrastructure will be installed at a number of depots and bus stations.

The first electric buses are now in service on CAT bus routes around the CBD.

Each electric bus can travel 300km on a single charge and will save about 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year, with current diesel buses requiring around 22,000 litres of diesel fuel to operate each year.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

“This is the start of a cleaner, more energy efficient public transport system, and under WA Labor we will be building our new C-series trains, new electric ferries and new electric buses right here in WA."

“We have so much potential to make more things here for the benefit of all Western Australians and that’s what our Made in WA plan is all about."

“More local manufacturing, growing our local supply chains and creating more quality jobs for Western Australians."

“Only my WA Labor Government has the experience to deliver our Made in WA plan and to do what’s right for WA.”

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