Kinetic's Glenfield Depot: Engineering smarter pathways to zero emissions

The electrification of our Glenfield bus depot represents a major step in Auckland’s journey toward a fully zero-emission public transport fleet by 2035. For me, it’s also a reminder of what’s possible when engineering, collaboration, and commitment align around a clear goal.

Kinetic is incredibly proud of our partnership with Auckland Transport and the role we’ve played in helping deliver on their zero-emission vision. The electrification of our Glenfield depot saw the replacement of 31 diesel buses with zero-emission vehicles and demonstrates how innovation can work within the practical realities of an existing depot.

When we first looked at Glenfield, the challenge was clear. The site is long and narrow, with buses parked at an angle along one side of the yard, an arrangement that has been refined over many years for both safety and efficiency. Our aim was simple: electrify the depot with minimum disruption.

Traditional ground-mounted chargers would have disrupted that balance, reducing capacity and restricting movement. Instead, we identified an overhead gantry system as the right solution - the first large-scale installation of its kind in New Zealand. By moving the charging equipment off the ground and above vehicle paths, we maintained the same operational freedom while improving safety and preserving site efficiency. Although construction costs were higher, the long-term benefits clearly outweighed them.

We selected ABB’s HVC 360 charging system for its proven reliability, stainless-steel durability, and long service life. ABB has been at the forefront of overhead charging from the early stages, and their experience gave us confidence that the system could meet our performance and safety standards.

Managing power across a 3 MW network required its own kind of innovation. Partnering with EVisi, a New Zealand technology company, we implemented dynamic load management that prioritises buses returning early to the depot and adjusts the charging rate as more vehicles arrive. This ensures we stay within the agreed limits of the local network while maximising efficiency and integrating seamlessly with Vector’s DERMS platform.

The result is a depot that’s cleaner, quieter, and more efficient, and one that proves sustainability and operational excellence can coexist. For our drivers and mechanics, electric buses are smoother, simpler, and safer to operate and maintain. For passengers and the local community, the benefits are immediate: quiet, fume-free journeys that make public transport more appealing.

Glenfield has also become a blueprint for what comes next. The success of this project is informing the design of 17 additional gantry-equipped depots now in planning - one in Auckland, eight in Melbourne, and eight in Sydney.

Glenfield shows that every challenge in electrification is an opportunity to do things better. It’s efficient, scalable, and ready for the future and it brings us one step closer to our goal of a fully zero-emission fleet.