NSW manufacturer nets $70m e-bus deal

A fleet of 79 electric buses will be manufactured locally under a $70 million deal between the New South Wales Government and Western Sydney bus builders Custom Denning. 

Custom Denning has been awarded a contract to design, manufacture the electric buses to operate in Sydney – under a scheme to fully decarbonise bus services in Australia’s largest city.

The buses will be manufactured in Custom Denning’s factory in St Mary’s. 

The deal is part of transitioning the NSW’s state’s bus fleet to zero-emissions technology under a 2019 commitment to decarbonise its 8,000-strong bus fleet. 

Currently the state’s fleet is both privately and publicly operated under 13 contracts servicing the Sydney metropolitan area.

Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said the $70 million investment takes the number of bus orders placed with Custom Denning past 100, which he says will help drive a post pandemic jobs recovery and a boost for local manufacturing.

“The NSW Government’s commitment to transition the entire 8,000-plus bus fleet is supercharging jobs and manufacturing in Western Sydney,” Mr Elliott said.

Once built, the 79 buses will operate services in Sydney’s inner west. Transport for NSW, in collaboration with its contracted bus operators, have ordered 101 electric buses from Custom Denning.

This week two federal MPs have voiced support and moved a motion for electric vehicle manufacturing industries to be supported to help solve Australia’s energy security challenges. Queensland Independent MP Bob Katter and Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie both believe developing the Australian electric vehicle manufacturing industry is a key component for the plan to reach zero net emissions (Renew Economy).