Sydney Airport in Australia today (August 31) unveiled the first electric airport bus in use in the country, as part of a A$5m (US$3.8m) investment in environmentally friendly ground transport technology.
The Electric Blu bus is the first of a fleet of six electric buses set to be launched by the end of 2016, replacing Sydney Airport’s existing diesel bus fleet servicing the shuttle route between terminals 2 and 3 and the Blu Emu Car Park.
Kerrie Mather, managing director and CEO, Sydney Airport, said, “We’re proud to be the first Australian airport to introduce electric buses to our parking and ground transport operations, which will reduce our carbon footprint and enhance the passenger experience.
“These state-of-the-art electric buses can make up to 100 transfer journeys on a single charge, providing a clean and sustainable transport option for the two million travelers, visitors and airport workers who use the Blu Emu shuttle service every year.”
The fleet of Blu Emu electric buses will deliver carbon emission reductions of approximately 160 tons per year and will improve local air quality through zero tailpipe emissions. The fleet will also lower external noise levels, reduce waste fluids to zero and decrease the amount of toxic material generated during servicing.
The Electric Blu bus can carry up to 70 passengers, features purpose-designed luggage storage racks and has a range of 400km (250mi) on a single charge. Sydney Airport has invested in charging stations and other ancillary equipment to support the deployment of the new electric bus fleet. The airport is also currently trialing electric cars as part of its ground transport fleet and is investigating solar-powered charging stations to further decrease carbon emissions.
