Popes Timboon bus drivers have been busy trialing a new electric bus, with the results proving positive.
Popes Timboon director David Pope said this was the second electric bus the business had trialed.
“This is a smaller bus, with a smaller range and battery capacity,” he said.
“It (the size) makes it more maneuverable and on some of the smaller, skinner roads it makes it easier.
“It’s easier to maneuver.”
Mr Pope said the bus was the “first and only one of its kind in Australia” and he was pleased to have the business trialing the technology.
He said the technology was similar to electric cars and they need to be charged, with the bus doing about 280km-300km in between charging.
Mr Pope said he was pleased with the trials of the bus, with it being used to complete a school run.
He said testing had shown the smaller version – with the passenger capacity of 28 – was a good as the first electric bus trial vehicle.
“We have a lot of people in the community who would like to see the concept fail,” Mr Pope said.
“We have been going through to find the failure points on this vehicle and we just can’t find any.”
The trial electric bus will be part of the Popes Timboon fleet for a few more weeks yet.
Mr Pope said on Monday the bus was used to take a group of Simpson Primary School students to a robotics dairy.
“We are doing some visits with the local kinder and we are putting it on as many school runs as possible,” he said.
“The main thing we are trying to do is test the batteries capacity.”
Popes Timboon Cherine Benallack has been enjoying taking the electric bus on her school run.
“I think it’s really good,” she said.
“I really like the air conditioning and heating. All the safety features are really good.
“It’s nice to drive, it’s smaller and it’s easier to maneuver.”
Ms Benallack said the children on her school bus run had also enjoyed the experience of trying the new electric bus.