Seymour will welcome its first of three electric buses this week as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s push towards a cleaner and more sustainable regional bus fleet.

Operated by Seymour Passenger Services, the three electric buses will be introduced to routes in and around Seymour by mid-2023, making the town the first in Victoria to have its public bus network fully serviced by zero emission buses.

The transition to zero emissions is supported by the installation of a new charging station by Victorian-based infrastructure company Mondo at the Seymour depot where the new electric buses will be based.

Seymour Passenger Services is one of six operators across Victoria taking part in the three-year ZEB Trial which will see 52 zero emission buses – 50 electric and two hydrogen – rolled out across Melbourne, Traralgon and Seymour.

The $20 million trial will inform the transition of around 4,000 diesel buses in the state’s public fleet, including around 2,200 in regional Victoria, to zero emissions, with all new buses on Victoria’s public transport routes to be zero emissions from 2025.

Data collected will provide practical information such as how zero emission buses perform and the energy and charging requirements for different types of routes.

Creating a greener fleet is part of Victoria’s Bus Plan to develop a modern and reliable network that attracts more passengers, with the new, greener buses critical to the Labor Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2045.

The trial is also fostering vital local industry partnerships that will be needed to achieve the transition across the state – almost all of the electric bus bodies in the trial will be built in Victoria, supporting the local supply chain, jobs and the economy.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll

“Victoria has a commitment of net zero emissions by 2045 and tackling emissions on the bus network is a critical part of that as we drive down pollution and remove noisy diesel buses from our public network for good.”

“Our ZEB trial is contributing countless benefits to our state, including providing job opportunities and supporting the local economy with almost all the bus bodies made in Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“Taking the title of the first town with a fully electric bus fleet is a huge win for Seymour with cleaner, greener and quieter buses.”