ABC 450th edition out now!

It was only a few years ago that the concept of a zero-emissions bus in Australia was talked about as a fantasy. Yes, there had been instances of trial models being tested on local roads well before these times, but the idea of introducing one into full-time fleets was treated as a far-flung wish for the future.

In the past couple of years alone, the industry has proven its technological capabilities by making these designs come off the page and sending them out to operate on very quiet routes around Australia.

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From the hustle and bustle of Sydney’s CBD to tourism vehicles up in Far North Queensland, zero-emissions buses now lead the charge in the country’s bus industry. While previously viewed as a mirage, the local industry has travelled quickly along the highway of progression to bring this shimmering vision into crystal clear view. It’s now our reality, and there’s plenty that companies are doing to shoot for the stars with the latest zero-emissions vehicle technology.

All of this and more is celebrated in our February edition of ABC, which focuses on the current zero-emissions bus and coach innovation on display in the Australian industry.

A key reason behind this rapid progression is international influence – it’s hard to look past the likes of BYD as a primary candidate for this role. Since forming its own commercial vehicles division in Australia just shy of two years ago, BYD has already introduced an update to its leading chassis model in the country. From page 20, BYD’s whirlwind story in Australia shows there’s plenty more in the pipeline for the international manufacturing giant.

With these stories of advancement also comes a sombre look at speed humps the Australian industry is facing. On Christmas Eve last year, the Victorian bus industry received an almighty roadblock when the Victorian government revealed it was “deferring” all bus orders by up to five years while also extending the lifespan of existing buses by the same period of time. It’s taken a lot of discussions and digging to uncover the details of the government’s changes, but the industry is now mobilised to challenge this issue. To get to the bottom of this story, check out both the Bus Industry Confederation’s open letter to the Victorian government on page 19 and ABC’s own exclusive look into how it is impacting Victoria’s bus industry from page 25.

Enough of the challenges facing the industry – the rest of this edition continues along the ZEB path.

Vehicle OEMs such as Bus Stop Sales, Scania Australia, GoZero Group, Volvo and BCI all discuss their latest evolutions in the zero-emissions bus game, as well as their insights into the market from a manufacturing point of view.

However, there’s more than just the OEMs involved in this transition, and our ZEB feature also extends to other parts of the industry. Whether it be financing, which Bus Finance Australia has found to become an incredibly crucial part of an operator’s decision to make the switch, or charge management solutions provided by brands like INIT Australia, plenty is happening.

Seating is also a growing member of this sector, with both Sege and StyleRide expanding their lightweight seating models to meet the demand for new vehicle technology. Alongside the latest Australian Design Rule updates for seatbelts and our usual assortment of sections, this, the 450th edition of ABC Magazine, comes at a crucial time for an industry facing change. Thanks for being part of our journey, and we hope you enjoy the read.