A small Far North Queensland tourism business will be one of the first to begin the transition to electric buses in 2024 after the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $4.75 million in funding through the Driving the Nation Fund.
Cairns-based Tropic Wings, who commute tourists between Cairns, the Daintree, Kuranda and other tourist hotspots, will take delivery of 12 fully electric buses through the program, meaning approximately one-third of their fleet will be electrified.
The funding will also enable the business to install 11 electric vehicle (EV) chargers and two battery energy storage systems, allowing them to store and use renewable energy.
With the tourism sector in Australia so far lagging in terms of EV uptake, due largely to associated costs and limited accessible infrastructure, the progress of Tropic Wings will be monitored as a pilot study for the future rollout of technology around the country.
“With roughly 100,000 buses in Australia, the scale of the challenge is enormous, and for smaller family-owned businesses the barriers are even greater,” said ARENA Chief Executive Darren Miller.
“This is what the Driving the Nation fund is for, supporting companies that are finding solutions and paving the way for zero emissions vehicles on our roads.”
The investment in 12 new electric buses at Tropic Wings follows the addition of their first battery-powered vehicle back in 2019.
Source: AutoTalk | E-buses for Queensland tours
13 December 2023