Australia, Siemens to power first full-electric bus depot in Queensland with 16 chargers

Queensland’s first all-electric bus depot will soon be a reality with Keolis Downer selecting Siemens to deliver eBus charging solutions to the new North Lakes depot in Brisbane. Operational from September 2022 and in service from February 2023, the depot will power 16 zero-emission buses (the contract was awarded to Australian group BusTech) serving more than 60,000 residents in the city’s northern suburbs, Siemens points out.

Keolis Downer will upgrade the North Lakes depot in partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads. The Queensland Government has made a commitment that every new bus in South East Queensland will be zero emission from 2025. Regional implementation will begin between 2025 and 2030. 

16 Siemens chargers in Queensland

Siemens will supply five Sicharge UC200 and 16 Sicharge UC Dispenser charging units capable of delivering a peak power output of 200kW. Siemens will also provide commissioning, spares, and preventative maintenance services for the depot, supporting the 100% electric bus fleet designed and built in Queensland by Australian manufacturers BusTech Group. 

Keolis Downer has also engaged Siemens to supply Sicharge UC e-charging equipment at the Hamilton depot in Newcastle, New South Wales, to support the first electric buses trialled by the operator in Australia. Regular services from the Hamilton depot are expected to commence by the February 2022, still the Germany company underlins.

Queensland largest e-bus fleet, thanks to Keolis, BusTech and Siemens

Siemens Australia Pacific Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Connolly, said “The flexibility of the Siemens Sicharge UC product family has enabled nations across the world to reap the benefits of electrified transport, with world-leading technology solutions providing local capability. Operators require flexible, robust and scalable solutions, and we are proud to see Keolis Downer choose Siemens technology to power Queensland’s largest eBus fleet.” 

“Transport fleets are one of the largest sources of emissions in Australia, and the decarbonisation of transport is an important part of meeting net-zero emissions targets. As more bus networks move to embrace new full electric bus technology, electrical and charging infrastructure will need to scale to meet this demand and ensure the seamless movement of people through our increasingly connected cities,” Mr Connolly said. 

Keolis Downer CEO David Franks said: “With electric bus technology developing at a fast pace, bus operators require holistic charging and depot management solutions that we can rely on to grow alongside the technology it powers and market demand. Siemens provides a world-class platform, enabling us to scale up quickly and meet the expectations of our passengers,” said Mr Franks.