Australia’s largest and busiest airport, Sydney’s Kingsford Smith, has announced it is looking to add electric buses to its fleet for use in the airport’s parking and ground transport operations.
The airport has invited Expressions of Interest from manufacturers in Australia and overseas to take part in an open tender for the supply of electric buses, to be used on the shuttle route between the T2/T3 precinct and the Blu Emu Car Park.
The electric bus tender is part of the airport’s commitment to sustainability and follows the publication last month of Sydney Airport’s first Sustainability Report.
“We are always looking to improve the efficiency of our ground transport operations and to do so in a sustainable way,” Sydney Airport General Manager Parking & Ground Transport, Craig Norton, said.
Finding sustainable transport solutions is a priority for the airport, and advances in electric vehicle technology in recent years mean we can now look seriously at the feasibility of introducing electric buses.”
Sydney Airport is advertising its electric bus tender in a number of publications in Australia, the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia, with interested parties required to register Expressions of Interest by 12 June.
“We’re looking for a manufacturer who can deliver first-rate electric vehicles to replace the six diesel buses that currently transport passengers and staff between the Blu Emu Car Park and the domestic terminals,” Mr Norton said.
In 2014, more than 1.6 million passengers and airport workers were transported on the Blu Emu Car Park’s buses.
“This is a busy shuttle route, and optimum operational efficiency and passenger comfort will be two of the key criteria we’ll look for from any manufacturer,” Mr Norton said.
Electric shuttle buses operate in Manchester and Nottingham in the UK and at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, while electric bus trials have taken place in cities as diverse as Los Angeles, Bangalore and Kuala Lumpur.
Manufacturers should register Expressions of Interest at:
www.sydneyairport.com.au/corporate/business/services/electricbustender.aspx
