Bioethanol buses

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Media release

5th November 2021

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Gold Coast built bioethanol buses set for Mackay trial

Emerging Gold Coast manufacturer BusTech is building two state-of-the-art bioethanol-fuelled buses to be rolled out on the Mackay bus network.

The two buses will soon hit the road as part of a 12-month trial and will run on bioethanol fuel produced from locally-grown sugarcane in Mackay.

Minister for the Environment and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said construction of the buses was a big win for manufacturing on the Gold Coast.

"This trial is the latest example of the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to a greener bus future, with every new bus in South East Queensland to be zero emission from 2025 and regional implementation to begin between 2025 and 2030," Ms Scanlon said.

"This is an exciting initiative for Gold Coast manufacturing, Queensland public transport, Mackay and the state as a whole, with construction beginning last month.

"The opportunity also opens the door for future manufacturing here on the Gold Coast as we transition the South East Queensland bus fleet to be zero emission.

"Bioethanol is more environmentally-friendly than traditional diesel fuel used on many buses and will be produced in regional Queensland from locally grown sugarcane.

"We know public transport already delivers major environmental benefits and the use of zero-emissions buses only enhances the advantages of public transport.

"Research indicates that their bioethanol buses can reduce carbon by up to 90 per cent and there is an important role for biofuels as a stepping stone to zero emission transport technologies by 2050.

"Customers will see these two new buses operating across the entire Mackay bus network."

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the trial had significant potential to influence statewide demand for biofuels as a renewable fuel source for transport.

"The Palaszczuk Government is supporting the state's emerging strengths in biofutures and biofuels to grow the industry, help drive investment and support local jobs," Dr Miles said.

"This biofuel trial is an important step towards transitioning public transport to more sustainable fuel sources that supported local ethanol production, strengthened biomanufacturing capability and investment in the sector.

"It will also draw on the expertise of Queenslanders, with North Queensland based company Wilmar Bioethanol Australia who will produce the fuel at their bioethanol refinery in Sarina, and Gold Coast-based bus manufacturer BusTech.

"We will continue to collaborate with industry to strengthen and develop Queensland's biofutures sector, which is delivering on the Advanced Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan."

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was proud to support Queensland jobs in the manufacturing sector.

"We are committed to supporting local jobs as we roll out zero emission transport, which creates new opportunities for manufactures to produce new technologies," Mr Bailey said.

"The Gold Coasts very own BusTech are at the forefront of this Queensland-first trial and will also be leading the construction of ten new electric buses later this year.

"The BusTech team is 120 person strong, and projects like this are playing an important part in supporting these quality jobs.

"When built, the ten new buses will call Clarks Logan City home and will be charged by new Tritium chargers that were also made in Queensland.

"We're putting in the work to decarbonise the transport sector and create a greener future for all Queenslanders."

BusTech Group Executive Chairman Christian Reynolds said the business was proud to have a key role in the project.

"The local manufacture of these bioethanol-fuelled buses at our Queensland facility is a real testament to the advanced manufacturing and technical expertise in Australia more broadly," Mr Reynolds said.

"We are passionate about enabling our partners to transition to more sustainable modes of public transport.

"Our collaboration with Scania to manufacture the bioethanol-fuelled buses for use in Mackay is one of the many ways we collaborate with our customers to take ongoing steps towards lower and zero emission transport solutions across Australia.

"We are proud to support the delivery of new mobility solutions powered by advanced technology, which deliver positive environmental and economic impacts for Australia."

Wilmar's Ethanol and Trading Business Manager, Trevor Barr, said the company's contribution to the trial continued a long association with Scania in promoting biofuels for heavy vehicles in Australia.

"Our team at the Sarina distillery are proud of our 93-year history of sugar-based ethanol production and it is only appropriate that we provide the fuel for the first formal trial of biofuel buses servicing our own region and community," Mr Barr said.

Scania Australia's Director of Sales, Bus and Engines, Julian Gurney, said the business was excited to play its part in the bioethanol trial.

"As the global leader in the development of a range of alternative and renewable fuels for use in public transport solutions, Scania has been strongly supportive of this trial and invested heavily to bring this project to fruition," Mr Gurney said.

"This technology will make an impact in reducing carbon emissions with solutions such as bioethanol that can be seamlessly integrated into our current public transport networks."

The trial is being funded by Scania and the Queensland Government.

ENDS

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