Kinetic unveils state-of-the-art zero-emission bus depot in Cairns

Credit: Kinetic

Kinetic has announced a significant upgrade to its bus depot in Portsmith, Cairns, positioning it as a key site for supporting the region’s transition to a zero-emission bus network. The renovated depot now houses five zero-emission buses, enhancing the travel experience for commuters and visitors in Tropical Far North Queensland.

As part of this initiative, Kinetic has introduced a new operations and administration building along with a modern maintenance workshop. The unveiling was officiated by Queensland Tourism Minister and Cairns MP Michael Healy, alongside Kinetic Co-CEO Michael Sewards.

Sewards said: “This upgrade is an important investment in the future sustainability of our operations, delivering infrastructure that will support the Cairns community now and for decades to come. With new facilities to support the maintenance and presentation of our vehicles and delivery of services, we now have the capacity to focus on the continued electrification of our fleet in the region.”

Kinetic introduced Cairns’ first electric buses in 2022 and currently operates zero-emission buses on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, making it the largest operator of electric buses in Australia and New Zealand.

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Minister Healy said: “This upgrade is an important investment in the future sustainability of our operations, delivering infrastructure that will support the Cairns community now and for decades to come. With new facilities to support the maintenance and presentation of our vehicles and delivery of services, we now have the capacity to focus on the continued electrification of our fleet in the region.”

Kinetic acquired Sunbus in 2019, which has been operating in Cairns since 2008. The combined team of over 170 individuals now provides more than 3.4 million passenger journeys annually.

Kinetic operates nearly 300 zero-emission buses across Australia and New Zealand, with 10 electric depots. Globally, the company’s electric bus fleet, managed by its UK subsidiary, is expected to expand to 1,000 vehicles in 2024.

The transition to zero-emission busing aligns with Kinetic‘s broader sustainability objectives, which includes achieving a 100% zero-emission bus fleet by 2035.