Preston bus depot electrifies fleet
23rd February 2026
Victoria’s first overhead gantry-charged zero-emission bus depot has officially opened in Preston, introducing new infrastructure engineering designed to accelerate Melbourne’s transition from diesel to electric public transport.
Delivered by Kinetic in partnership with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning under the Metropolitan Zero Emission Bus (MZF) franchise, the purpose-built facility incorporates a Victorian-first overhead gantry charging system that optimises depot layout and electrical integration.
Unlike traditional ground-mounted chargers, the Preston system suspends high-voltage charging equipment above the vehicles, using retractable cable reels to connect directly to roof-mounted charge ports. By relocating infrastructure overhead, the design improves vehicle manoeuvrability within the depot and is approximately 25 per cent more space-efficient than conventional charging layouts.
This engineering approach enables higher bus density within the existing site footprint while reducing potential ground-level equipment damage risks. The depot will ultimately support up to 58 battery-electric buses, travelling more than 2.8 million kilometres annually across Melbourne’s northern suburbs, including routes to Moonee Ponds, Melbourne University and Reservoir.
The first zero-emission bus entered service in January 2026, with the entire Preston fleet scheduled to transition over the 10-year franchise period. The facility forms part of Victoria’s broader plan to transition one-third of the metropolitan fleet to zero-emission buses by 2035, replacing around 600 diesel vehicles and reducing an estimated 45,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Kinetic’s local deployment draws on lessons from its Glenfield depot in Auckland, where it introduced New Zealand’s first large-scale overhead gantry charging system. The company now operates more than 1,500 zero-emission buses across 33 depots globally, allowing it to apply established electrification standards and operational data to the Victorian rollout.
Beyond fleet transition, the Preston depot includes workforce upskilling initiatives to prepare maintenance teams for high-voltage systems and battery-electric drivetrains.
As Victoria progresses toward its 2045 net-zero target, the Preston facility represents not just fleet renewal, but the deployment of next-generation depot engineering to support large-scale electric bus operations.