Perth’s largest electric bus depot opens with charging for 132 buses

Western Australia has officially unveiled its newest and largest electric bus depot in the Perth suburb of Bayswater, the fourth site in the city to be equipped with electric bus charging infrastructure.

The Bayswater EV bus depot now boasts 65 dual-socket electric bus chargers and two single chargers, providing initial capacity for up to 132 electric buses, with room to expand to 180.

The depot is already operating 20 electric buses.

The upgrade project also delivered a new administration building, workshop and wash bay, depot yard, bus and staff parking areas, landscaping, security fencing, line marking, and associated site infrastructure.

Bayswater is the fourth site in and around Perth to have been equipped with electric bus charging infrastructure, following the Elizabeth Quay Bus Station, and Malaga and Karrinyup bus depots.

The upgrades are part of a $250 million initiative by the Albanese and Cook Labor governments to phase out diesel buses and deliver new electric bus charging infrastructure across Perth.

So far, the joint federal-state investment has delivered an initial 130 electric buses along with associated charging infrastructure and depot upgrades.

There are now more than 200 locally made electric buses operating on Perth roads, including Australia’s first locally made electric articulated ‘bendy’ bus, which entered passenger service on Monday, 2 November.

“We’ve delivered more than 200 electric buses which are now operating on our roads, and I’m so proud that they’re Made in WA,” said Rita Saffioti, Western Australia’s minister for transport and major infrastructure.

“To support our growing electric fleet, we need quality EV charging infrastructure which is why we’re rolling out upgrades to depots across Perth.

“Bayswater is now our biggest EV bus depot delivered as part of our joint investment with the Australian Government.

“Building electric buses in WA is another way we’re supporting Western Australian jobs, while ensuring our world-class public transport network is sustainable for the future.”