WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti (left) at the handover of the first of four electric Perth CAT buses in February 2022. Photo: WA Government.
A joint Federal and WA State Government initiative has awarded a contract to JET Charge Pty Ltd to build Perth’s first dedicated electric bus charging infrastructure at Elizabeth Quay bus station.
The $1.65 million contract will see 18 electric bus charging dispensers and associated charging management systems and software installed at Elizabeth Quay. The work is scheduled to commence in early 2024, in time for the first of 18 electric Perth CAT buses to enter service a few months later.
“This is just one example of the Australian Government working with the Western Australian Government to deliver vital transport projects to greatly improve services and travel times for public transport commuters in Perth,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said.
“This funding partnership with the Western Australian Government will continue to boost the Perth economy for years to come by supporting the growth of vibrant urban centres through integrated transport and providing sustainable alternative transport options.”
Each of the new buses will have a range of 330 kilometres on a charge, and the 18 buses currently on order are scheduled to be in service by mid-2025.
Four electric buses began a trial in the Joondalup area in February 2022. To date, they have carried more than 250,000 passengers over 140,000 kilometres.
The new charging infrastructure is part of a larger $250 million joint funding initiative, which will deliver 130 new electric buses, install charging infrastructure at key depots, and upgrade manufacturing facilities to produce electric buses.
Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said both governments are looking to transition the Perth bus fleet to fully electric.
“We’re investing in new electric buses, but also ensuring we have the infrastructure in place to support those electric buses and delivering the facilities so we can manufacture and build the buses right here in Western Australia,” she said.
“The move to electric buses is a positive step to emitting fewer greenhouse gases than diesel and natural gas-powered models. By the middle of next year Perth CAT passengers will be able to get around the CBD in a more environmentally friendly way.”
