The Zero Emissions Buses Program is a program initiated by the Government of New South Wales, Australia to replace 8,000 buses that rely on diesel or natural gas fuels and replace them with electric buses.
The project aims to have all buses in Greater Sydney running on renewable energy by 2035, in outer metropolitan regions of Sydney by 2040 and in regional New South Wales by 2047.
History In February 2019, the first electric bus in New South Wales, a Yutong E12, commenced operating with the Premier Transport Group in Nowra.TfNSW ndorsed Electric Bus Trial Extremely Impressive Australasian Bus & Coach 12 July 2019
In October 2019 Minister for Transport Andrew Constance announced the Berejiklin government's intention to convert all 8,000 buses in New South Wales to electric buses by 2030.There is a real health impact: Minister plans to electrify Sydney's 8000-strong bus fleet Sydney Morning Herald 28 October 2019 This was later revised to 2035, in outer metropolitan regions of Sydney by 2040 and in regional New South Wales by 2047.
Prior to 2023, buses and coaches accounted for 78% of Transport for NSW's greenhouse gas emissions.
Depots As at September 2026, 14 existing Sydney bus depots are to receive electric charging technology to support the fleet of approximately 1,200 new electric buses. The depots to be converted are:Zero emission buses Sydney bus depot conversions Transport for NSW:
+ Electric depots Depot Region Status Brookvale 8 Completed Kingsgrove 6 Under construction Leichhardt 6 Under construction Penrith 1 Under construction Menai 10 Planning Mona Vale 8 Pre construction North Sydney 8 Planning Port Botany 9 Planning Smeaton Grange 2 Planning South Granville 3 Planning Taren Point 10 Planning Tempe 6 Planning Waverley 9 Planning Willoughby 7 Planning
Brookvale was the first completed in September 2025.Brookvale welcomes Australia's largest electric bus depot Downer Group 29 September 2025
A new depot under construction at Macquarie Park is planned to house around 165 electric battery powered buses.Macquarie Park Bus Depot Transport for NSW
Vehicles In February 2019, the first electric bus in New South Wales, a Yutong E12, commenced operating with the Premier Transport Group in Nowra. In July 2019 Transit Systems took delivery of four Gemilang bodied BYD K9s to be trialled out of Leichhardt Bus Depot.Sydney Region 6 Electric Bus Trial Starts 1 July; Routes Confirmed Australasian Bus & Coach 28 June 2019
In December 2020, Transit Systems ordered 31 Gemilang bodied BYD K9s for operation of out Leichhardt Bus Depot.Transit Systems places Australia's largest order of E Buses Transit Systems 4 December 2020 In February 2022, an order for 79 Custom Denning Elements was placed by Transport for NSW.Custom Denning to manufacture 79 new buses in NSW Manufacturers's Monthly 15 February 2022
In December 2024, 319 new electric buses were ordered from Custom Denning, Foton Mobility, Volvo and Yutong. In September 2025, 95 Volgren bodied BYDs and 56 Custom Denning Elements were ordered.
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