From self-delivery to expert-led scale
After a self-delivered 6-vehicle pilot, Brinks partnered with Zenobē to scale to 25 vehicles in 12 months, cutting costs and timelines whilst projecting $800k in fuel and maintenance savings.
Transit Systems
Delivering Australia's largest next-generation electric bus depot
40
new electric buses powered by Zenobē on the streets of Sydney*
59
electric buses managed by Zenobē’s proprietary software
c.3,744 tonnes
of CO2 saved from entering the atmosphere per year*
Zenobē worked with Transgrid to deliver Australia’s largest electric bus project by creating the most sustainably advanced depot in the country. A major first step into the region for Zenobē, this is also a leap forward for New South Wales and Transit Systems in delivering cleaner, greener transport.
The challenge
Having committed to transition its 8,000 buses to zero-emission technology by 2030, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) planned to transform its Leichhardt depot into a next-generation electric depot.
Housing Australia’s largest single fleet of 59 electric buses for global bus operator Transit Systems, the project presented a unique opportunity for Zenobē to scale its wealth of experience in battery storage and depot electrification, to deliver a sustainable depot that seamlessly integrates solar and battery technology with the electricity grid.
The solution
Zenobē’s unique end-to-end solution removed the financial, technical and operational risks of the transition, leveraging years of experience in the UK to deliver at scale, with guaranteed bus and charging performance.
Finance – Zenobē oversaw the finance of all assets including the buses, replacement batteries, AC and DC fast chargers, on-site civil and electrical work, stationary storage and solar panels.
Charging infrastructure – we ensured all the required network infrastructure upgrades were made, including grid, solar and battery connections.
Dynamic software – our market-leading software and telematics manage the bus charging and grid optimisation to ensure that the buses are fully charged to perform on their routes. Transit Systems can gain enhanced insights into their drivers’ and vehicles’ performance so that the vehicle and battery’s longevity are maximised.
Zenobē Co-Founder and Director Steven Meersman explains that through the installation of on-site batteries, over 50 buses can be charged overnight for a full day of operation, without having a negative impact on the grid. Moreover, in the day the onsite battery storage unit will support the uptake of renewables on the Australian network, providing essential stability services. “We are excited to be delivering this advanced infrastructure implementation supported by our end-to-end software, which will seamlessly manage the fleet charging process, as well as the resulting power requirements.”
Zenobē Country Director for Australia and New Zealand Gareth Ridge said it is our ability to wrap the entire service solution from end-to-end, removing key technology risks, that de-risks and supports large-scale electrification.
The outcome
We received strong support from the Federal Government in the form of $5 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), as well as important debt finance from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
Zenobē will share valuable learnings with the industry, from construction through to deployment, through ARENA’s Knowledge Sharing Reports. These reports will be an invaluable public resource for the Australian bus sector as it transitions thousands of buses over the coming decade.
“The Zenobē offering leverages years of experience in the United Kingdom, where we have successfully proven that we can deliver this model at scale with guaranteed bus and charging performance for the end customer. It is exciting to be bringing this market leading knowledge, software and expertise to Australia to support NSW and Australia's transition to zero emissions.”
Gareth Ridge
Country Director, Australia
and New Zealand, Zenobē
and New Zealand, Zenobē
Other Electric Fleet projects
Supporting Belgian bus operators with electrification
Discover how Zenobē is supporting Belgian bus operators with electrification with nearly 70 electric buses across multiple depots.
Zenobē supports 10 electric school buses with The Trans Group
Zenobē partnered with Educational Bus Transportation (EBT), a managed entity of The Trans Group, to finance 10 electric school buses and deliver the associated charging infrastructure for Copiague Public Schools. The project supports New York State’s school bus electrification goals while providing zero-emission transport for approximately 4,500 students and creating a scalable foundation for future fleet expansion.
