Innovation
Tranzit Group maybe one of New Zealand’s oldest bus and transport companies, but it has always thought like the newest.
Innovation is in Tranzit Group’s DNA. It’s how we’ve stayed ahead for 100 years, and it’s how we’ll lead into the next century.
From pioneering electric buses into New Zealand, developing smarter business systems and trialling new technologies that improve performance and our customers’ experience, has helped cement our reputation as industry leaders.
But innovation at Tranzit Group goes beyond our fleet. It’s embedded in our training and development, business processes and the way we partner with communities to champion bold ideas that support our six strategic pillars – of which innovation is proudly one.
“An important part of innovation is being a family business. Our family is very much about thinking long term – we want to be here for another 100 years without polluting the environment with internal combustion engines. That led us to pour money into researching electric buses and their development – normally that money would have been given as dividends to shareholders but for Tranzit, it goes back into investing in our innovation, and this has helped reinforce our reputation as leaders in Australasia.”
Keven Snelgrove, Tranzit Group’s Director of Transport and Operations.
Fleet innovation
Tranzit has been in business since 1925, and prides itself on its traditional family values and heritage, with its head office still proudly in the regional town of Masterton. But being in regional New Zealand doesn’t mean narrow-minded thinking.
Throughout our 100 year history, we’ve made fleet innovations that improve safety, and the passenger and driver experience.
Since 1970, many of these innovations have been done through an environmental lens.
Our team repowered an older V8 petrol fleet with more efficient diesels in the 1970s, then in 1980 continued this program using the more modern and fuel-efficient Isuzu 6BD1 diesel engine. In 1990 Tranzit started to repower older pre-Euro standard engines with Euro 3 and 4 engines before placing an order for 20 Euro 4 Touring Coaches in 2010, the top of the line at the time, which were used for Rugby World Cup 2011 and brought us a lot of pride.
After beginning to explore electric bus technology in 2014, we partnered with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to do a joint application to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund. This was successful and in 2017 led to the development and build of New Zealand’s first commercially operated 100% battery powered electric bus, called EV1. Launched in 2018, EV1 is now part of AUT’s shuttle fleet, servicing the North City Campus and South City Campus bus routes.
The same year, we launched 10 fully electric double-deck (EVDD) buses into the Metlink bus network, making Wellington the first city in New Zealand to have a battery powered bus fleet. Over the next three years we incrementally added a further 31 EVDDs into Wellington and invested significantly in charging infrastructure to future proof this fleet.
Since then, we have partnered with our key stakeholders Horizons Regional Council, Waikato Regional Council, Taranaki Regional Council and Auckland Transport to introduce more modern electric buses into Palmerston North, Taupo, Taranaki, Waikato and Auckland.
Simultaneously, we’ve upskilled our driving team to make the transition from diesel to electric buses and upskilled our workshop mechanics and engineers, so they can safely and confidently work on this fleet.
Because Tranzit’s electric buses are bespoke to the area or region they operate in, our fleet is made up of single and double deck vehicles with different size battery packs that influence how much range the bus has. For example, our electric buses on the Waipa network will typically travel 350- 500km per day, which are some of the longest public transport routes in New Zealand.
Tranzit continues to stay ahead of the curve in this field – leading several complex and innovative projects, some never attempted before.
INNOVATION CASE STUDY
Tranzit’s Repower Project
In a Southern Hemisphere first, Tranzit successfully converted a double deck urban bus from EURO 6 diesel to 100% electric. Dubbed internally as the Repower Project, the idea was sparked by Tranzit’s Masterton workshop team who were looking at alternative ways to decarbonise public transport and assist the country in reducing emissions from land transport.
Innovation Case Study
Tranzit is dedicated to making the journey better for everyone, for the next 100 years.
To support our growing electric bus fleet, Tranzit has invested in and dealt with the energy sector and key stakeholders, including lines companies, to secure enough capacity to charge our growing fleet of electric buses.
This currently stands at approximately 4,200 kWh and includes:
- New Zealand’s only two super-fast 450 kW chargers – one located in Island Bay and one at the Wellington Interchange in Thorndon. At these locations, double deck electric buses be charged from 20% to 100% in 12 minutes.
- a total of 1080kW installed at our Grenada depot, north of Wellington. Here, Tranzit worked with electricity providers, lines companies and major stakeholders to create the innovative laneway design – the first of its kind in New Zealand at the time. This allowed for future growth so that 48 electric buses can be charged simultaneously.
- x1MW substation at our Rongotai depot in Wellington
- x1MW substation at our Palmerston North depot that can charge 20 buses simultaneously, or 40 without moving any buses. This fleet is powered by 100 net zero electricity to help reduce scope 2, or indirect emissions substantially. Installation of a combination of chargers to enable fast and traditional overnight charging.
- 240kWh in Auckland
- 60kWh between Taranaki and Taupō depots.
Because Tranzit has always taken a forward-looking view to upskilling our team, we have upskilled our engineers and mechanics to be able to work on these significant projects and learn more as they go.
The other exciting side to Tranzit’s electrification programme and charging infrastructure, including our Repower Project, is that we retain the intellectual property in New Zealand and are happy to share our learnings. Tranzit’s key team members have been invited to present to leading tourism and transport industry figures, sharing our electrification journey and hinting at what is yet to come.