Heatherton depot to run every urban route bus on electric as Kinetic completes electrification upgrades

Kinetic, the largest bus operator in Australasia and a leading multi-modal mass transit operator, has completed electrification upgrades at its Heatherton bus depot in Melbourne's south-east that will allow every urban route bus operating from the site to be zero-emission by the end of 2026, a first for Kinetic's Victorian network.

The upgrades lift the number of zero-emission buses the depot can charge from 12 to 30, supporting the entire Metropolitan Bus Franchise fleet based at Heatherton, so passengers on routes 600, 603, 604, 922 and 923 will travel on zero-emission buses. The remaining diesel buses will be replaced through the rest of the year.

The works also introduce automated charging technology for the first time on Kinetic's Australian network, keeping our people and depot infrastructure safer. Load management software distributes charging across the site overnight, keeping demand within the depot's power limits while ensuring every bus is ready for the morning.

Kinetic installed its first overhead charging gantry in Australasia at its Glenfield depot in Auckland, and in January 2026 its Preston depot became Australia's first bus facility to introduce gantry and cable reel charging.

Heatherton is the first to automate charging, and the same technology is being extended to Kinetic's Sunshine West depot.

The upgrade, delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government, installs a single overhead gantry with capacity for up to 22 charge points, supported by two fast chargers for high-capacity opportunity charging and a dedicated electrical kiosk to increase the power available at the site.

Gantries need little civil groundwork and can be built off site, which allowed crews to install the system around daily operations, with the depot remaining open throughout the upgrade works. No parking or operational space has been lost at Heatherton, and once the remaining diesel infrastructure is removed the site will have more usable space than before.

Kinetic Managing Director (Australia) Matthew Campbell says the milestone reflects Kinetic's commitment to supporting the electrification of Victoria's urban bus network.

"Heatherton will be the first depot in Kinetic’s Victorian network where every urban route bus that leaves the depot gates is 100% electric," he says.

“We've operated this site since 2022 and are proud to have delivered this major electrification upgrade in partnership with the Victorian Government.

"We're committed to the ongoing electrification of Victoria's urban bus network. That means consistently innovating, investing in new technologies, and working closely with our building and bus manufacturing partners.

"Reliable charging is what keeps buses in service, so we keep investing in the equipment our people work with."

Heatherton was one of Victoria's first depots to charge electric buses, electrified under Kinetic's Metropolitan Bus Franchise and recognised with a Premier's Sustainability Award.

Charging runs entirely on renewable energy from the grid, complemented by more than 200 solar panels providing additional green energy support for the depot.

Kinetic operates over a third of Melbourne's public bus network, running 64 routes across the city since taking on the Metropolitan Bus Franchise in February 2022 and the Metropolitan Zero Emission Bus Franchise in July 2025.