❓ A parliamentary question regarding the cost, benefits, and rationale behind Western Australia's fuel cell bus trial, compared to diesel/gas buses and similar trials in Europe. The government's answer highlights research, industry development opportunities, and potential impact on the natural gas industry.
AnsweredQoN 2991Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the answer to Supplementary Information Request No: B1 which states that $5,825,000 is the ‘remaining payment on delivery and acceptance of fuel cell buses’ and ask how much money has already been paid for the delivery and acceptance of these buses?
(2) What is the anticipated cost over a 10 year period of owning and operating these fuel cell buses compared with the other buses in the Perth fleet that use diesel or gas?
(3) Why is the fuel cell bus trial being undertaken here in Western Australia when Daimler Chrysler has access to other cities in Europe with a Mediterranean climate almost identical to that in Perth?
(4) What are the short and long term benefits to Western Australia taxpayers of this fuel cell trial when Daimler Chrysler are already committed to the introduction of fuel cell buses, regardless of Western Australia’s involvement in their research program?
(2) What is the anticipated cost over a 10 year period of owning and operating these fuel cell buses compared with the other buses in the Perth fleet that use diesel or gas?
(3) Why is the fuel cell bus trial being undertaken here in Western Australia when Daimler Chrysler has access to other cities in Europe with a Mediterranean climate almost identical to that in Perth?
(4) What are the short and long term benefits to Western Australia taxpayers of this fuel cell trial when Daimler Chrysler are already committed to the introduction of fuel cell buses, regardless of Western Australia’s involvement in their research program?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 August 2004
Responded by
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
63 days
(1) $1,392,499.07 (2) One of the purposes of the trial is to assess the costs of owning and operating these buses and comparing this with other buses. A research project aimed at determining this cost is part of the overall project evaluation being carried out by Murdoch University. (3) Related trials of similar technology are being carried out in 10 other cities in Europe. Perth has bus routes which are longer and operate at a faster average speed than other cities in the trial. This was part of an arrangement commenced in 1999. (4) The fuel cell project will allow the Western Australian Government, researchers and industry to be able to gain critical information relating to the possible future introduction of hydrogen as a future energy carrier. This will provide the opportunity for Western Australia to lead Australia in taking advantage of industry development opportunities that arise. An additional benefit will be understanding the impact on the Western Australian natural gas industry that might occur from the use of natural gas as the major transition fuel into a possible future hydrogen economy.
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