Community
20 December, 2023
Greener fleet for firm
TOURISM and charter bus operator Tropic Wings is switching to electric buses with the help of the Albanese government and a $4.75 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
The funding will help buy 12 electric buses for tours and charters between Cairns, Port Douglas, and Cape Tribulation.
The estimated total project cost is $10.2m, of which $4.75m is funded by ARENA.
Tropic Wings, part of the CaPTA Group, will be the first privately-owned Australian coach charter to make the move to cleaner, cheaper to run vehicles, helping them save on fuel costs and reduce diesel emissions in places like the Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge, and Kuranda.
The funding will also support the installation of 11 battery chargers and two battery energy storage systems.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said that the initiative would contribute to lowering carbon emissions in the transportation sector.
“Tropic Wings will be one of the first small-to-medium tourism businesses to reap the benefits of cleaner, cheaper-to-run, electric vehicles,” he said.
Senator for Queensland and special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green, said she was pleased to see Tropic Wings take the initiative and make the move to electric buses.
ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said use of electric buses in the tourism sector at this scale was an Australian first.
“ARENA is glad to see companies like Tropic Wings taking the lead and showing how smaller players can play their part in transitioning the nation’s bus fleets,” he said.
CaPTA director Michael Woodward said the entire CaPTA Group believed in the potential of the region and was dedicated to enhancing the tourism experience while preserving “our natural treasures”.
“We take immense pride in being a family-owned business deeply rooted in tourism. Our confidence in the region and commitment to it are at the heart of our mission.”
Tropic Wings general manager Colin Anderson said the acquisition of the 12 electric vehicles represented a significant step towards their goal of becoming 80 per cent electric by 2028.
