First Queensland green hybrid bus starts trial

A hybrid diesel-electric bus hit the streets of Cairns in a Queensland-first trial. The government is trialing the “green” bus that will travel from Palm Cove in Cairns northern beaches to Brisbane. Barron River MP Steve Wettenhall says the trial will examine the fuel efficiency and how well it performs in certain conditions. “Cairns has been chosen to trial this new green-friendly technology because we have one of the highest rates of public patronages of any regional city and a wide variety of road types and of course a tropical climate,” he said. A second hybrid bus will be trialed next year in Brisbane. (July 13, 2010)