Zero Emission Bus Trial

• Installation of the battery chargers at the Launceston depot by Cromarty is well underway, with the chargers themselves to be installed in the next two weeks.

• Production of the BEB by Custom Denning is all progressing well, with all four buses now on the production line in Sydney.  The BEB are now all due to arrive in Launceston in December.

• The contract for supply of a telematics system for the trial was awarded to ZF Australia
• A tender for a provider to conduct Community and Stakeholder Surveys for the trial was released. The surveys will enable the capture of community and industry learnings and attitudes about zero emission transport fuels and technologies throughout the course of the trials.

• A tender for supply of a telematics system was conducted.  The telematics system will enable capture of data about the performance of the ZEB’s, such as rates of power and fuel consumption, to allow future analysis of the performance of the vehicles.

• Our Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Chargers, crafted by ABB in Europe, have arrived at our Launceston depot and are ready to be installed come late September.
• A comprehensive Safety Workshop, covering HazOp (Hazard and Operability Study) and SiD (Safety in Design), was recently conducted. This workshop focused on our upcoming Hydrogen Refueling Station, which will be located at the Mornington Satellite depot. The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including our Metro staff, representatives from Tas Fire Service, CBOS – Gas Standards and Safety, and the experienced professionals from our contractor, H2H Energy.

• Metro Tasmania has appointed three firms to supply equipment for operational trials of two separate zero emission bus technologies in Tasmania. The contracts were awarded following an extensive request for expression of interest and a subsequent request-for-tender process run late last year:Foton Mobility Distribution Pty Ltd – supply and maintenance of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) in Hobart.H2H Energy Pty Ltd – supply and maintenance of one Hydrogen Refuelling Station to be installed at Metro’s Mornington satellite yard in Hobart.Custom Bus Group Pty Ltd – supply and maintenance of three battery electric city buses (BEB) and associated battery chargers for Launceston.
• In Hobart, three FCEBs will operate on a wide range of Metro routes for three years, expected to commence in mid-2024.
• The BEBs will operate Metro services across the Launceston network for two years starting in the last quarter of 2023.
• Metro has also agreed with Custom to purchase a fourth battery electric bus for the Launceston based BEB Trial.

• Contracts to supply the new buses, battery chargers and hydrogen refuelling station have been unconditionally awarded to the successful tenderers.
• A public announcement of the successful tenderers is expected in July.
• A Planning Permit for the Hydrogen Refuelling Station at the Mornington depot has been issued by Clarence City Council.

• Contracts to supply the new buses, battery chargers and hydrogen refueller expected to be awarded in late May, with successful tenderers to be announced in June.
• Replacement of the Launceston depot main electrical switchboard is scheduled for the last week in May.
• The Development Application for the Hydrogen Refuelling Station at the Mornington depot is currently on public notice, until 24 May.

• In April the process for approving the award of contracts to supply the new buses, battery chargers and hydrogen refueller to the Preferred Tenderers was progressed.  Contracts are expected to be awarded in May 2023.

• In March the process for approving the award of contracts to supply the new buses, battery chargers and hydrogen refueller to the Preferred Tenderers was progressed.  Contracts are expected to be awarded in April 2023.
• The Development Application for installation of the Hydrogen Refuelling Station at Metro’s Mornington depot was lodged with Clarence City Council.

• In February the process for approving the award of contracts to supply the new buses, battery chargers and hydrogen refueller to the Preferred Tenderers was progressed.  Contracts are expected to be awarded in March 2023.
• A new main electrical switchboard was ordered for the Launceston bus depot, replacing the very old existing switchboard, to ensure adequate power supply for the battery electric bus chargers.  The new switchboard will be installed in May and a generator will maintain power to the depot during the changeover.

During January the Project Team have worked with Preferred Tenderers to agree on final supply contract terms and conditions.

Contracts for supply are expected to be awarded in March 2023.

During December the Preferred Tenderer’s for supply of the project goods and services, were identified.

Contracts for supply are expected to be awarded in March 2024.

The tender for up to three Battery Electric Buses and Battery Chargers closed on Monday 24 October; and the tenders for up to three Fuel Cell Electric Buses and the Hydrogen Refuelling Station closed on Monday 31 October.

Contracts for supply are expected to be awarded by the end of January 2024.

As part of the Request-for-Tender process, Tenderer’s conducted site inspections of the Metro locations where the Zero-Emission-Buses will be garaged, maintained, recharged and refuelled.

The schedule for the site inspections was:

• Tuesday 20th September – Launceston depot for the BEB Trial (Buses & Chargers) RFT
• Wednesday 21^st September  – Mornington yard for the FCEB Trial (HRS) RFT
• Wednesday 21^st September – Springfield depot for the FCEB Trial (Buses) RFT

The closing date for tenders is 24 October (BEB Trial) and 31 October (FCEB Trial).

Expressions-of-interest for the supply of buses and charging/refueling equipment were completed in June, and potential suppliers were shortlisted for tender.

Three separate tenders will soon be called for the supply of:

• up to three battery-electric buses and battery chargers;
• up to three fuel-cell-electric buses; and
• a hydrogen refueling station