The new eBus service starting next Tuesday has Nelson leading New Zealand in the transition we need to make in electrifying transport.
I have long been of the view that the future of transport is electric. Auckland University’s ground-breaking engineering in the 1990s, developing the variable speed electric motor helped start the revolution to electric cars, bikes and now buses.
I trialled the first prototype electric car that used lead-acid batteries in NZ in 2008 when I was Minister of Climate Change. It was costly, unreliable and had a range of only 40km.
I purchased my second electric car in 2012, a MiEV that was powered by lithium-ion batteries and had a range of 120km. It is still going strong today. The last decade has seen huge gains in the range and affordability of electric cars. We should be proud that Nelson is leading NZ in their uptake.
It is the further development in battery technologies that now makes eBuses viable. The fleet of 17 new Foton eBuses are powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries giving them a range of 400km. I took one for a test drive this week. The quiet, smooth ride and powerful acceleration make them a dream to drive.
There is more to the new bus service than just being electric. There are new routes servicing Motueka, Māpua, Wakefield, Brightwater and Nelson Airport. The number of people within a 10-minute walk of a bus stop increases from 35,200 to 57,100.
The service is more frequent, with an eBus between Nelson and Richmond every 30 minutes from 7am-7pm, 7 days a week. The fares are reduced to $2 with a Bee Card within the urban area, lower for seniors, students and Community Service Card holders. There is free wifi, real-time tracking and e-readers at major interchanges.
This new bus service is only part of Nelson’s transport solutions. We need to invest in all modes to reduce congestion and improve choice.
I thank the NCC, TDC and Nelson Coachlines’ teams for the huge effort that has gone into getting the new eBus service ready for 1 August. There will be teething problems. Change is difficult but it’s the change we need to make for a more sustainable future.
