Kinetic, the largest bus operator in Australasia, has finished upgrading its Sunshine West depot in Melbourne to support a larger fleet of zero-emission vehicles. The facility now allows for the simultaneous charging of 66 buses, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 24 units.
The infrastructure project involved installing three overhead gantries equipped with 38 charge points, with plans to expand to 54 points in the future. The site also features two fast chargers for high-capacity opportunity charging and a new electrical kiosk to boost power supply.
To manage energy consumption, the company implemented automated charging technology and load management software. This system balances overnight charging to keep demand within the depot's power limits, ensuring all vehicles are ready for morning service.
The upgrades were completed in collaboration with the Victorian government. According to managing director Matthew Campbell, the depot will operate 60 zero-emission buses by the end of this year, with the site infrastructure designed to support up to 82 vehicles as the fleet grows.
