UNSW, Ebusco agreement to bolster greener transport

UNSW has entered into an agreement with Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco, aiming to boost the development of electric vehicles in Australia.

The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will promote further research and development of sustainable transport.

UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs said the partnership reflects UNSW’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

“This new collaboration with Ebusco will help make significant advances in areas such as renewable energy and manufacturing — both areas of research strength at UNSW,” Jacobs said.

“We are committed to taking action on climate change and to working with industry as such partnerships are key to making a positive global impact.”

Under the terms of the agreement, UNSW students and research experts will have the opportunity to work with Ebusco engineers on diverse subject areas, such as transport planning, energy storage and advanced and precision manufacturing. Students will have access to scholarship programs, industry placements and internships at Ebusco’s operations in the Netherlands, China and Australia. Students and staff will also have opportunities to work directly with Ebusco engineers on the next generation of the company’s electric bus fleets.

Professor Ian Gibson, Associate Dean (Industry and Innovation) at UNSW Engineering, said the MoU presents an unsurpassed opportunity to advance UNSW research across multiple engineering disciplines.

“This partnership draws on complementary expertise and we hope it will lead to new and more efficient ways of manufacturing electric vehicles in Australia. I am looking forward to seeing the translation of UNSW’s research into commercial outcomes,” Gibson said.

The Director of Ebusco’s Australian business, Simon Pearce, believes the relationship with UNSW is a natural fit.

“We were blown away by the breadth and depth of knowledge at UNSW. I have no doubt this partnership will help Ebusco continue to pioneer world-leading technology and sustainable transport solutions,” he said.

UNSW and Ebusco hope to work with Transport for NSW to improve health and the environment in our cities. The NSW Government announced late last year that it would replace Sydney’s ageing diesel bus fleet with electric vehicles. It is currently calling for expressions of interest for running trials of environmentally friendly zero emission buses.

Image caption: UNSW and Ebusco will further research and development of sustainable transport in Australia. Photo: Ebusco.