Alternative / Electric bus trial

[Barry Drive]

New topic. For if or when someone has some news.

[Barry Drive]

The contract for the Volvo B5RLEH Bustech hybrid diesel has been posted to the ACT Tenders website.

( https://tenders.act.gov.au/ets/contract/view.do?id=42605&returnUrl=%252Fcontract%252Flist.do%253F%2524%257Brequest.queryString%257D )

Contract expires at end of September 2018.

No information on when the bus will enter service.

[Busnerd]

Wonder if Bustech will submit a tender since they now have electric vehicles in Adelaide.

[Barry Drive]

Tenders closed a while back.

They have not released who were the tenderers, nor made any announcement about which or how many buses will be used on the trial.

The contract with Volvo prevents them from making any publicity announcement without Transport Canberra's approval. So there could quite easily be a ZDi being built now for this trial without anyone knowing.

[triumph]

The detail released about the contract in Schedule 2, Item 1  states The Bus: Volvo B5RELH Euro 5 chassis Bustech VST USED with less than 25,000km of service.

Furthermore delivery date quoted in the schedule is 1st July 2017 at 5pm.
That is very specific and precedes the agreement date of 17thy July.

It seems that a specific existing bus is contemplated and is probably a company demonstrator already available. On that basis it might reasonably expected to be delivered and in service within a few weeks.

[Busfanatic101]

The following is from the today's sighting thread:

There is a TFNSW liveried Bustech bodied standard sized bus with the NSW Waratah insignia parked near the workshop in Tuggeranong Bus Station, glimpsed when we drove past today. Does anyone know what it's doing there. I'm guessing it is a new arrival given it hasn't been mentioned here.

It was first sighted at Tuggeranong Depot last Friday.

Further discussion concerning it I'd suggest take place here (http://actbus.net/forum/index.php?topic=4236.0), as I'm fairly sure your sighting and this topic are concerning one the same thing.

The Friday mentioned is 30 June, so the arrival date, depot, bus body, and used all match up to this contract, supporting KoB's hunch).
I agree with triumph about the contract referring to a specific bus, though it seems it has been here for the past month and a half.
There is nothing in the contract to suggest the will be more than one bus, so unless they put out an additional tender it could be just be the one bus. I guess it is cheaper that way in the short term...

[Busnerd]

With NSW Waratah? They haven't used that for ages, they use "the hop" now. The Waratah hasn't been used for a few years now.

[King of Buses]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/two-electric-action-buses-and-one-hybrid-bus-to-hit-canberra-streets-20170813-gxvh0v.html

This was published this afternoon.

[Busfanatic101]

A little more background here, though much of it is now reflected in the fleetwiki. It seems there have only ever been at most 2 Volvo hybrids with a Bustech Body
http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=84838
http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=79659

[King of Buses]

710 (BYD Toro/Gemilang) and 712 (Volvo B5RLEH/Bustech VSTH) were launched this morning to the media.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Of course I missed it...

and I traveled through civic twice on Friday too.... ffs

[Busfanatic101]

Is there any known reason for the fleet numbers 710-12 being used
eg. past trial buses, or perhaps there is likely to be a new order of 68 buses in the next year?

[Barry Drive]

No reason known. I can think of many other numbers which would have been more appropriate.

My guess is so that they can continue adding new buses over the next 18 months without disruption. And then by the time 710 is needed, the trial buses will have left.

[Barry Drive]

...
710 (56) first boarding (and sighting). It was pretty cool, sounds so different, though the brakes seemed less effective and jerky, you notice the clatter more because of the quieter engine (which does not make for a quieter trip overall) and the interior is a little more bland. The front > < shaped LED lights that I hadn't noticed from initial photos are cool

For those who haven't seen this. A review of the Carbridge (BYD) Toro: https://www.busnews.com.au/bus-reviews/1703/video-review-carbridgetoroebus

Explains that it requires a different technique to driving - especially braking.

[triumph]

Interesting that the model is named TORO. This is the brand used for many years for a range of mowing and irrigation equipment. So, has the use of the name for the bus been licenced, or has this brand user been ignored, or is there an ultimate ownwership tie up, or .........?

[triumph]

Beginning to wonder if 712 is actually out and about.

No 'what bus did you ride today' reports after launch and I have not sighted it yet.
Contrast with 710, reported as ridden by several forum members, and I have sighted it twice and ridden once already.

[Busfanatic101]

Beginning to wonder if 712 is actually out and about.

No 'what bus did you ride today' reports after launch and I have not sighted it yet.
Contrast with 710, reported as ridden by several forum members, and I have sighted it twice and ridden once already.

I saw it once on Northbourne mid last week and twice yesterday at Woden bus station doing 316S in the morning and in the afternoon a outbound 26 (my old school bus driver from a year or 2 ago)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

For the first week or so they weren't being used until the afternoon that I noticed, but since last week 710 and 712 are around.

From what I can tell from the past couple of days is that 710 appears to be on the one shift, as I've seen it do the 200N at XX:XXpm from the city on two occasions now - both times I missed it

[Busfanatic101]

For the first week or so they weren't being used until the afternoon that I noticed, but since last week 710 and 712 are around. From what I can tell from the past couple of days is that 710 appears to be on the one shift, as I've seen it do the 200N at XX:XXpm from the city on two occasions now - both times I missed it

710 has been on the same shift all 3 times I was there to see it at the right time since last Thursday (259 seeing X:XXpm), and 712 as well for the last 2 days (26W around X:XXpm)

Are drivers undergoing specific training to drive these?

And as I was typing this 710 came past a little bit lost on the first 9ZZ of the morning.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

It's possible that like 490b they'll either be shared with a select number of drivers, that or it's being used like a flow shift bus, going from one driver to another each week - that's what I think, but to find out properly you'd probably have to ask one of the depot managers.

[Barry Drive]

The second BYD is due to be delivered today, based on the contract anyway.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Why was the 3rd bus delayed for several months, when the trial is for a year, won't that mean 711 will only be trialled for a shorter period, or does it get a year too?

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

It still says on the wiki that 711 was expected in Dec 2017. I've been around the depot a couple of times since, but haven't seen any signs of it, not of it on the roads being used. What's going on? Are we getting 2 electric bus trials or 3?

[Buzz Killington]

What's going on?

Once we know, the wiki will be updated

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Ok, well I got confirmation from the CEO of ACTION yesterday that it will commence service at the end of February.

[Barry Drive]

Unless it has arrived this week, I can't see that happening.

[Peter Bakos]

It appears the government now wants to buy another 40 of these alternative energy buses for 2018-19. See here:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-government-eyes-electric-buses-for-201819-bulkbuy-20180206-h0uewm.html

[Barry Drive]

Ok, well I got confirmation from the CEO of ACTION yesterday that it will commence service at the end of February.

Yeah, but February which year?

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Why are you asking me that, I don't work for ACTION, how am I supposed to know?

[Snorzac]

You're the expert that talks to the "ACTION CEO"on a regular basis it seems, I thought someone like yourself would know this stuff....

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Someone's been spreading lies about me again, typical... I don't know what you've been told, but I only got to talk to him for a few seconds cause he was at the last RATEC meeting, and 711 came up during the discussion about the alternative energy buses coming in the near future, and I asked about the delivery, that's it...

[Barry Drive]

Yeah, but February which year?

I apologise for my use of this "Dad Joke".

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

I was wondering why the electric buses haven't been being used recently and I realised yesterday, the year trial is pretty much over now. So much for 711, they only just got and now the trial is up. That was certainly executed well...

What now, does TC keep them, return them, what?

[743]

The trial started in August, so hardly a year yet. https://amp.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-first-electric-and-hybrid-buses-go-into-service-on-monday-20170825-gy3x0r.html

Why would they deliver a brand new bus in full TC livery only not to use it?

I've seen both 710 and 712 on the road recently. There are many reasons why they could be off the road temporarily - electrical, for instance.

[King of Buses]

Why would they deliver a brand new bus in full TC livery only not to use it?

Fun fact: Under the "I'm Electric" wrap, 710 also has the same "TC livery" as 711 (it's close, but it is missing the white stripe separating the blue and grey).

Bear in mind 710 sat around for a while before entering service, too. Unlike 711, however, its presence was less obvious as it was stashed away out of sight for a while between its initial sighting (within 24 hours of its delivery) and its first appearance on the bricks at Tuggeranong in its wrap, prior to its official launch.

712 experienced something similar, but wasn't hidden quite as well. It spent most of its time before being wrapped on the bricks at Tuggeranong, standing out like a sore thumb with its TfNSW livery.

I expect 711 will be in service in the next month or so depending on whether they're waiting for any infrastructure relating to it or not to be built or made available. It is also possible it will enter service at around the same time as the first Optimus rigid(s).

And, come August, I'd say that if TC plan on purchasing some more BYD/Gemilangs and/or Volvo B5/VSTHs buses there would be a chance they will purchase some/all of these demonstrators from the company/companies they have leased them from, and then make further orders. It is also possible that if they do wish to purchase some electric or hybrid buses they might order different types such as a Bustech ZDi or whatever (it'll be put out to tender if they want more, I imagine).

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

As long as they don't smell as bad as 710 does internally, that'll certainly be a nice improvement to the fleet - too many noisy buses atm.

[verbatim9]

The trial started in August, so hardly a year yet. https://amp.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-first-electric-and-hybrid-buses-go-into-service-on-monday-20170825-gy3x0r.html

Why would they deliver a brand new bus in full TC livery only not to use it?

I've seen both 710 and 712 on the road recently. There are many reasons why they could be off the road temporarily - electrical, for instance.

I think they are using the same electric buses at Brisbane Airport for Terminal Transfers and out to Skygate. They were meant to start in February but I haven't seen or been on one yet.

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/brisbane-airport-signs-25m-bus-contract-ahead-of-proposed-monorail-20170605-gwkwk2.html

BYD Expands Electric Bus Fleet Brisbane Airport | #ElectricCar #zeroemission #sustainability #clean | @ECarsReport https://t.co/LrzNtGLnI1 https://t.co/aAAG1nbS3D

Very impressed to check-out the first @BrisbaneAirport fully-electric bus today. Council is keen to learn from the team at the airport to see how this technology performs in day-to-day operations. https://t.co/RJOwMOzIm6

[Stan butler]

The trial started in August, so hardly a year yet. https://amp.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberras-first-electric-and-hybrid-buses-go-into-service-on-monday-20170825-gy3x0r.html

Why would they deliver a brand new bus in full TC livery only not to use it?

I've seen both 710 and 712 on the road recently. There are many reasons why they could be off the road temporarily - electrical, for instance.

Maybe they have an issue and had to be taken off the road.  It could be some engineering problem, or they don't meet specific requirements.  Don't forget, it is/was a trial, so if something is wrong then they would need to come of the road to be checked or fixed.

[Busnerd]

Carbridge have been using the Electric Vehicles on their Blue Emu Carpark shuttle for a couple of years now in Sydney.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Ok, and now for some reason 711 is sitting around the back of Belconnen Depot, saw it yesterday as I passed by on a 343 to Macgregor (and confirmed on the way back). Although it could be 652 as I couldn't see the number, but I'm a little confused as I just watched the news from last year on YT, are the next 80 buses electric or standard?

[Busnerd]

There is no electric or Hybrid buses on order.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

So has anyone seen the electric buses in service lately?

I got 710 today, and it was apparently taken off the roads recently due to a brake issue. 712 has been around, yes.
I have yet to go to Belconnen to check out if 711 is still where I saw it the other day of if it's something else entirely.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

So on the wiki it says 711 has entered service. Anyone seen/ridden it yet?

[King of Buses]

Fairly sure the wiki has said "expected in service soon," but anyway, it doesn't matter anymore - 711 entered service this morning.

[triumph]

Saw and rode 711 for the first time on a route 44 service today. My impression is that the motor whine is a lot less intrusive than that experienced in 710 which can only be good.
A few body rattles are already evident, but 710 is now much rattlier. It would be a pity if body durability were to count against future electric bus acquisitions.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

How did it smell compared to 710?

[triumph]

I haven't noticed any particular whiff on either 710 or 711. Perhaps the whiff was temporary from something caused by a passenger, or may be an electrical component was giving up the ghost and stinking (some types of materials used in electronic and electric components when being fried have very strong stinks. I experience an old fluorescent light blowing up at work. It rendered the whole office uninhabitable for several hours till the bromine like smell dissipated).

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

It's probably that electronic component you speak of, cause all the other buses have that same fresh smell the Iris and Scanias had when they were new. I've ridden 710 a couple of times now, and although it has lessened now, that same smell I pick up from it is still there.
I may or may not have mentioned it before, but the first time I ever rode it, it was a full 300N so I presumed the smell was from someone, but the second time was weeks later with no one being on it for a while due to the drivers meal break and it was the same scent. Whatever it is, 712 doesn't have it, so it's either some part of the bus or an electrical part 712 doesn't use.

[triumph]

Second ride today on 711. Rte 718 all the way from City to Lanyon. Again the whine is a lot less intrusive than that of 710. Having recently had a similar Xpresso ride in a PR100.3 to Lanyon, the comparison of ride quality was disappointing. 711 jarred much more on road irregularities, which may be why the bodies of 710, particularly, and 711 exhibit quite a few rattles.

The driver remarked that he specifically sought to drive these buses so he could claim the kudos. 

[triumph]

There is a rumour that the alternative energy bus evaluation is to terminate at the end of this month. Can anyone verify this? If so, all 3, or....?

Whatever, it seems wise that anyone still looking to ride should try and do so very soon.