By Molly Magennis
The first two Kinetic electric buses will go into service over the next few weeks across the western suburbs, with the first route available taking passengers from Yarraville to Highpoint Shopping Centre.
The electric buses are being built at Volgren’s Dandenong South manufacturing facility, and will be deployed across 11 routes in the west.
Kinetic will introduce 36 electric buses to its network by mid 2025, including five by June this year. They will also replace 341 diesel buses with zero emissions and hybrid buses over its 9.5 year franchise.
The construction of these buses will support local employment and is expected to create over 50 new jobs, including traineeships.
The colourful floral design on the buses, which was chosen as a result of a statewide poll, represents a bright future for the planet with public transport powered by clean and sustainable energy.
By mid-2025 it is expected that thousands of people will be travelling on at least 78 quieter, exhaust-free electric buses each week across Victoria.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the government is on track to meet this 2025 target.
“It’s not only good for the environment, it’s good for industry and the local economy with over 50 new jobs to be created at Volgren in Dandenong,” he said.
