Electric bus drives new era for WA transport

WA’s first private commercial electric bus has been launched in Bunbury, marking a new way of transport for companies in Western Australia. The $600,000 bus, operated by Go West, will transport mining workers from Bunbury to South 32’s Worsley Alumina operations in Collie. The coach features 53 seats and a full suite of safety features including a fire suppression system, seatbelt detectors, a collision alert system and eight CCTV cameras. The coach previously completed a trial on the trip to the Worsley site and will now be a permanent part of the operations. Transit Systems National Resources & Tours Sectors managing director David Haoust said it was an honour to be launching the bus. “It’s a great moment for Go West tours in the Kelsian Group for the launch of the first private commercial electric coach to operate in WA, so we’re very, very proud of that.” he said. The new bus will cut emissions by 1000kg each fortnight, according to Mr Haoust. Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the launch was an exciting step forward for the industry. “It’s a milestone, it’s about innovation, it’s about thinking about the future and it’s about the social licence that we all share in terms of where we need to be as we decarbonise,” he said. “I think this is going to be the first of many buses.” Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby said investment from the industry was a major way forward to meaningfully reduce carbon emissions. “It is so important, it’s such an important milestone on the journey to decarbonise our State economy,” he said. “I always say this, we will never do it as a government alone. “These are huge challenges, big challenges and big changes but also enormous opportunities and I say that we need the support of individuals in the community and we need the support of the private sector, so here we have the private sector stepping up.”