Where might you go if you were the world's first solar-powered electric bus? Somehow, the Adelaide City Council has convinced Tindo, which is that bus, to make Adelaide, Australia its home. Not only is the bus powered 100 percent by solar energy (from a BP Solar-sourced photovoltaic station), but people can also ride it for free. The bus has room for 42 passengers.

The Tindo is made by Designline International, a New Zealand company. This is not a hybrid, but a fully-electric vehicle. At least, I think so. The Adelaide City Council website certainly makes it seem so, but the Designline page only talks about hybrid buses, not pure EVs. The Council claims that:

The solar electric bus and the recharging system at the Adelaide Central Bus Station represent a significant investment by the Adelaide City Council into a sustainable future for the City of Adelaide, while providing leadership in sustainable public transport options for cities around Australia.

According to the "A New Life Down Under" blog, the Tindo (which is the Kaurna name for Sun) arrived in Adelaide today and was officially launched by the Lord Mayor in Victoria Square/Tarndanyangga just before noon.

A spokesman for Adelaide City Council comments:

I can assure readers that the electric bus - named "Tindo", which is the local Aboriginal word for "sun" - is a pure EV. It will be recharged using a unique solar PV system installed on the roof of the new Adelaide Central Bus Station.

This system generates 70,000 kilowatt hours of zero carbon emissions electricity per year - which makes it the largest grid-connected solar system in our City.

"Tindo" has an operational range of 200 kilometres between charges under typical urban conditions, and as it doesn't have a combustion engine, it operates quietly and effectively with zero tail pipe emissions.

It uses 11 Swiss-made Zebra sodieum/nickel batteries, giving the bus unprecedented energy storage and operational range. And the batteries are not affected by external temperatures.

If anyone would like further information about the Adelaide City Council's world first 100% solar electric bus, please contact me at D.Heath@adelaidecitycouncil.com