172 new electric buses en route to Auckland

Ritchies, one of New Zealand's major public transport operators, has signed an agreement with Zenobē to increase its electric bus fleet by fivefold. The partnership will also see the delivery of six new electric bus depots across West and South Auckland.

No details have been shared on which types of buses will be delivered to Ritchies; however, Zenobē has shared key timelines for the rollout, which will take place across Auckland during the next nine months. It began over the weekend, with the opening of the first new electric bus depot on 2 November; with other depots to follow between now and August 2026.

Zenobē will be directly involved in the design and construction of these depots, and will also provide a ‘Battery as a Service’ solution for Ritchie’s entire bus fleet. Through this, Zenobē will finance and manage the lifecycle of the batteries on the bus. Procurement is reportedly already underway, with Zenobē’s New Zealand team set to project manage both the charging sites and delivery of the vehicles. Zenobē already has a presence in New Zealand, having previously collaborated with Ritchies to roll out 11 electric Yutong E10 buses in Dunedin.

Gareth Ridge, Zenobē’s country director for Australia and New Zealand, said: “Through this partnership with Ritchies, we’re not only deploying one of the country’s largest electric bus fleets but also investing in local capability and infrastructure to ensure this transition is successful, scalable, and lasting. We’re proud to help set a new benchmark for sustainable public transport in Aotearoa.”

zenobe.com