Greater Wellington Regional Council and Electric vehicles
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Metlink’s Airport Express set to break 2023 patronage record
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Eight months since Metlink’s Airport Express exceeded forecast demand, latest patronage figures indicate a new record is poised to be set. 364,191 trips were recorded on the fully electric buses’ first year of operation to 20 July 2023 – 128% of the number expected. With over 320,000 trips already taken in the service’s second year of operation and figures for April and May forecast to be around 36,000 in each month, patronage is set to surpass the 2023 total in just ten months. Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter say he’s delighted by the patronage growth which underscores Metlink’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable transport options for our residents and visitors alike.
- Accepted from GW news 2022 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- airport
- buses
- electric-vehicles
Wellington International Airport, Coutts Street, Rongotai, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6023, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
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Diesel-to-electric bus conversion and Sky Stadium projects seek funding from Greater Wellington for low carbon initiatives
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Greater Wellington’s Climate Committee has recommended that the regional council fund two projects aimed at lowering the regional council’s carbon footprint. Metlink has applied for funding to reduce bus emissions through a diesel-to-electric power bus conversion trial, and the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust applied for funding for a study into reducing Sky Stadium’s environmental footprint. Both were considered at today’s Climate Committee meeting. Metlink seeks $550,000 to convert a diesel-powered bus to electric power and trial its operation in the Metlink fleet.
- Accepted from GW news 2022 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- buses
- electric-vehicles
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Budget absence of new trains surprises and disappoints regional councils
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- The Budget’s failure to contribute funding for a fleet of hybrid electric trains in the lower North Island has surprised and disappointed Greater Wellington and Horizons regional councils. The trains, which are battery powered on non-electric track, were proposed by the councils in a business case paid for by Waka Kotahi. Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter and Horizons chair Rachel Keedwell said the government’s decision was, “Like the lights being turned off”. "It’s especially disappointing for commuters and surprising for our councils. But we’re not giving up,” Cr Ponter said. “When enacted, our business case will significantly reduce transport emissions while providing for population growth and the replacement of aged rolling stock.” Supported by Manawatū-Whanganui’s seven mayors, as well as the eight mayors of the Wellington region, the business case recommends a $762 million dollar investment in a fleet of 22 four-car, tri-mode trains, and associated infrastructure.
- Accepted from GW news 2022 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- electric-vehicles
- trains
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Southern hemisphere’s first electric ferry launched in Wellington
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- he first fully electric, high speed passenger ferry in the southern hemisphere was officially launched today in Wellington, where the locally built vessel will sail commuters across Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Constructed by the Wellington Electric Boat Building Company, the 19-metre Ika Rere is powered by Meridian Energy for Metlink public transport services and owned and operated by East by West Ferries.
- Accepted from GW news 2022 by tonytw1
- Tagged as:
- electric-vehicles
- ferry
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Operators report due diligence on China source EV buses
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Wellington bus operators Tranzurban and NZ Bus have responded to questions from Greater Wellington about sourcing electric buses from Chinese manufacturer CRRC Corporation Limited (CRRC), both reporting that their due diligence revealed no evidence of the company using forced labour.
- Accepted from GW media releases 2019 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- buses
- electric-vehicles
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Metlink to boost electric buses from 2 to 22 per cent of its fleet to meet climate change goals and passenger growth
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- From left to right: Cr Daran Ponter – Chair, Greater Wellington Keven Snelgrove – Tranzit Brendan Prince – NZBus James Howard – Tranzit Cr David Lee – Greater Wellington Cr Roger Blakeley – Greater Wellington The ink has dried on contracts for 98 new electric buses, which will take Metlink’s fleet of electric buses to 108, significantly reducing its carbon footprint and taking Greater Wellington a step closer on its target of carbon neutrality by 2030. Metlink currently has 450 buses in its active fleet in the Wellington region 10 of which are EVs, making up two percent of the fleet. Once the 98 buses are added to the fleet the proportion of EVs will rise to 22 per cent which, excluding market leader China, is high by international standards. Seventy-three of the buses will be used on current scheduled services with a further 25 to be progressively added to routes to meet future network growth. The new electric buses will eventually take 61 diesel buses off the roads, leading to a 17 per cent drop in carbon emissions and a similar reduction in harmful emissions. Greater Wellington is delivering on its promise of a building a modern low emission bus network according to Chair Daran Ponter. “I’m sure that people across the region will be pleased to see another 61 diesel buses taken off the road and this will drive real climate benefits by deploying the new electric buses on high use areas of the network. “Just like our plans for rail, this is also about ensuring we have a fleet in place that can cope with rising population trends and demand for public transport over the next few years. That’s why 25 buses will be used to accommodate forecast passenger growth without an increase in emissions,” added Chair Ponter. Climate Committee chair Cr Thomas Nash said we have to provide attractive alternatives to our current 20th century car culture if we’re serious about responding to climate change. “Over the last two decades transport emissions rose by 14 per cent across the region, mainly from fossil fuel burning cars and trucks. “We need a real step change here and we know we can move far more people with far fewer vehicles if we provide high quality public transport. A modern, comfortable low emission fleet will play a key role in attracting new passengers, encouraging them to embrace public transport. We’ve got an opportunity to break free from the car-dominated landscape that’s been driving pollution in our cities - let’s take it,” added Cr Nash. Roger Blakeley, chair of Greater Wellington’s Transport Committee, said that the new fleet will also attract more bus drivers to the region. “This new fleet shows our intentions for growing the network and obviously more buses means more drivers. We want buses that drivers can be proud of and these state of the art buses, many fitted out right here in New Zealand, will help us attract drivers that want to be at the forefront of the public transport industry in New Zealand and internationally.” As part of the deal, NZ Bus will source 67 ready-to-go large single decker EVs from China and Tranzurban will build 31 double decker EVs at Kiwi Bus Builders in Tauranga, with parts sourced from world leading Chinese bus manufacturers. NZ Bus CEO Barry Hinkley said he was delighted that NZ Bus was making a significant contribution to NZ’s environmental performance, commenting that growing the number of EVs in its fleet is the right way forward as NZ Bus looks to a future of reduced fossil fuel usage. "With these 67 new electric buses, NZ Bus is proud to be having the largest EV bus fleet in New Zealand. With these new orders, we will see our EV fleet grow to at least 85 buses in the short term. "Obviously, we all should try and do as much as we can to look after our environment; taking public transport is a great way of reducing emissions, and electric public transport is an even better way. “We’re committed to doing our bit to help reduce emissions in New Zealand and at the same time provide people with a safe and easy way to get around,” said Mr Hinkley. Tranzurban Director Keven Snelgrove said today’s announcement is a clear demonstration of the company’s commitment to partnering with Greater Wellington and pioneering and investing in electric bus technology and infrastructure in New Zealand. He says the 31 new double deck EVs add to the company’s fleet of 10 New Zealand-built double deck EVs successfully in operation in Wellington already. “This new fleet will deliver multiple benefits of being New Zealand built, adding to our modern and reliable electric bus fleet and help reduce carbon emissions and air pollution for Wellingtonians.” The buses will be delivered between mid-2021 and early 2023.
- Accepted from GW media releases 2019 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- rowing
- wellington
- art
- buses
- people
- electric-vehicles
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Greater Wellington embraces the trend towards electric vehicles
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Electric vehicles are critical to decarbonising road transport, so the Greater Wellington Regional Council has endorsed an advisory report on ‘Supporting Electric Vehicles in the Wellington Region’.
- Accepted from GW media releases 2019 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- electric-vehicles
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Dutch Ambassador trades four wheels for two by cycling to work each day
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- The Dutch Ambassador to New Zealand Mira Woldberg is walking the sustainable talk by swapping her embassy car for an e-bike and cycling to work from Wadestown each day.
- Accepted from GW media releases 2019 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- wadestown
- e-scooters
Wadestown, Wellington, Wellington City, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand (OpenStreetMap)
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Park rangers take new e-bikes for a spin
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Greater Wellington Regional Council takes another step towards its carbon neutral by 2030 goal by providing regional park rangers with electric bikes.
- Accepted from GW media releases 2019 by feedreader
- Tagged as:
- e-scooters
- e-bikes
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The future of electric vehicles begins in Wellington
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Leading international experts will be discussing the future of electric transport in New Zealand in a sold out symposium in Wellington on Monday.
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- Tagged as:
- electric-vehicles
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Greater Wellington Regional Council begins move to electric vehicles
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- The Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) today added the first fully electric car to its vehicle fleet, on the same day transport Minister Simon Bridges announced an extensive package of measures to increase the uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand.
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- Tagged as:
- electric-vehicles
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