SA Government advances transport decarbonisation

The South Australian Government has announced it has ordered 60 full battery electric buses, as well as appointing two global engineering advisory firms to develop detailed planning towards creating a zero emission passenger transport network.

The new bus fleet’s bodies are being built by Australian bus manufacturer Volgren, with infrastructure to charge the buses being installed at the Morphettville depot.

The 60 buses are on order from supplier Scania to be delivered progressively throughout the second half of 2025 and early 2026. There is currently just one full battery electric bus operating on the network, after a successful trial.

In further efforts to decarbonise the public transport network, the South Australian Government is also appointing two global engineering professional services companies, Mott MacDonald and WSP, to assist with developing detailed business cases to plan towards a transition to zero emission operations across the passenger rail and bus networks.

The state government has made a commitment to achieve an emissions reduction target of at least 60% of 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Transportation is the largest single source of emissions in South Australia, with the operation of public transport vehicles being a major contributor to emissions generated by the South Australian Government.