Developing a zero-emissions bus roadmap for Metro Tasmania
At a glance
Metro Tasmania engaged us to develop a Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) roadmap for the future development of its bus fleets across Tasmania. The roadmap is designed to provide a clear pathway to pilot and trial ZEBs, while considering operational needs, cost estimates, safety and required training.
The challenge
Public transport is currently delivered exclusively by buses in Tasmania. Metro Tasmania is actively considering the use of alternative fuels and technologies in its strategic planning and has recognised the market shift from internal combustion engines to hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric technologies. As the next phase in its fleet modernisation program, Metro Tasmania is seeking to trial ZEBs utilising battery electric and/or hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Although there have been initiatives to deploy battery electric buses (BEBs) around the world, only a handful of locations have been able to see mainstream adoption of BEBs as a large percentage of their entire bus fleet.
The adoption of BEBs increases electrical load, so communication between all stakeholders is important. This includes electricity generation and distribution companies, bus manufacturers, charger manufacturers, public transport authorities and operators.
There is currently very little hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in Australia, and the few current refuelling stations are not accessible to the public. On-site production of hydrogen also requires expensive electrolyser technology in addition to local storage infrastructure.
Our response
To assist Metro Tasmania’s transition plan, we collaborated with Evenergi to prepare a ZEB roadmap. We adopted a three-staged approach to developing a transition plan which included requirements and data collection, analysis, and assessment.
Requirements and data collection
We collected detailed information about ZEBs and chargers available in Australia via market survey and consultations. We also used service information about Metro Tasmania’s operations and fleet replacement schedule as data inputs.
Analysis
We undertook a comprehensive analysis to assess the operational and cost impacts of fuel cell and battery electric technology alternatives against the existing internal combustion engine buses operated by Metro Tasmania.
The analysis measured bus efficiency and range, which included:
- Vehicle specifications
- Route profiles (traffic conditions, distance, dwell times, sustained top speeds, etc.)
- Topography
- Climate (air-conditioning load)
- Opportunities for regenerative braking
- Operational parameters
Using Metro Tasmania’s block schedule and general transit feed specification data, we simulated each bus route within the GridFleet electric vehicle scenario planning platform.
Assessment
We assessed current technology and development options for ZEBs globally and in Australia, providing background information and lessons learned in other jurisdictions. Technology options focused on hydrogen fuel cell buses and BEBs, and included direct vehicle, depot infrastructure and supply chain considerations. We also conducted an assessment of safety and training requirements.
To accurately estimate the charging costs, we modelled different charging scenarios and estimated energy consumption during peak, off-peak and shoulder times. We also estimated the total cost of ownership, providing a comprehensive overview of all associated costs arranged by scenarios over the transition lifetime.
The impact
Based on our analysis and assessments, we were able to provide Metro Tasmania with a roadmap that has informed its ZEB trial, which opened expressions of interest in late 2022. Our simulations found that based on the energy consumed, both a BEB and fuel cell bus could be used to service all existing routes in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.
Project costings were prepared for smaller scale trial operations, including five buses for battery electric, a fuel cell with a hydrogen electrolyser and a fuel cell with a third-party hydrogen supply.
The project demonstrated that establishing partnerships with local energy providers is essential for the energy transition, as well as for implementing the charging management system.
The growing zero-emission vehicle landscape offers governments a variety of options for transitioning infrastructure. The procurement process now encompasses vehicles, charging stations, and electrical or hydrogen infrastructure. With input from stakeholders, several promising procurement strategies have emerged for the long-term integration of ZEBs.
Tasmania’s ZEB trial marks the beginning of its journey towards embracing zero-emission buses. This roadmap leverages comparative advantages and key insights from trials conducted both in Australia and around the world, crafting strong recommendations for public transport decarbonisation.