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Transport in Australia makes up 18 per cent of total carbon emissions so as consumers become increasingly climate conscious, transport providers have a crucial role to play in actively reducing their carbon footprint.
Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL) has provided professional and reliable bus transportation for their local region for over 50 years and have a long history of commitment to the ongoing development of public transport in the area.
"Latrobe Valley [has been an] electricity producing area from coal for 50 years. It’s time we actually looked at other energy sources.” - Rhonda Renwick, Latrobe Valley Bus Lines
That commitment extends to the wider impact of their fleet so in late 2018 LVBL launched a new fleet of hybrid buses – the first of their kind in Australia. They aim to grow the fleet to eight buses by next year.
“We're always looking at any sort of innovative products to enhance the public transport in this area, to support our community and to provide the best service that we can,” says Anna Tyben, General Manager of LVBL.
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She says although there are immediate financial benefits with the hybrid fleet - including a 35 per cent saving on fuel - the buses will provide long-term environmental benefits including a 30-40 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and up to a 50 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxide or particulates emissions.
“Latrobe Valley is known for high level air pollutants so we're aware of that, we're conscious of it,” says Tyben. “We live here and our drivers live here. So this is our small contribution and we'd like to see that that contribution increase.”
According to Shara Bidois, Senior Associate at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), hybrid electric buses typically also see a reduction in maintenance and running costs as well as a significant reduction in emissions - good news not only for LBVL but also for the Latrobe Valley community.
“We're really pleased and proud to see a family business adopting these new types of technologies and driving the change to an environmentally friendly fleet,” Bidois says.
Rhonda Renwick, Managing Director of LVBL agrees: “Latrobe Valley [has been an] electricity producing area from coal for 50 years. It’s time we actually looked at other energy sources.”
She hopes the buses will provide opportunities for others in the area to learn about hybrid technology and encourage people to think about electric cars as a viable alternative.
ANZ has joined forces with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to establish a $A150 million program to help Australian businesses like Latrobe Valley Bus Lines cut energy costs and reduce carbon emissions through innovation.
The ANZ Energy Efficient Asset Finance program makes it easier for businesses to invest in energy-efficient and renewable technologies that will help reduce their energy use, carbon foot print and fuel costs.
Kylie Swaine is Asset Finance Manager and Cosi De Angelis is General Manager, Transaction Banking & Asset Finance Solutions at ANZ
The views and opinions expressed in this communication are those of the author and may not necessarily state or reflect those of ANZ.
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Emissions busted
2019-05-20
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