Business
14 June, 2025
Buses easier on nature
TWO H Drive EV80 buses have been commissioned at Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre (MGCC).
The fully electric, fast charging vehicles will carry 30 passengers and are low floor and mobility-friendly.
It is believed that these new vehicles will be vastly more environmentally-friendly than the previous diesel engine powered buses.
“We have been using diesel vehicles in this beautiful place for too long and we have been searching for the correct partner to rectify that and to ensure we are moving our business towards zero emissions,” said Mossman Gorge chief executive officer Matt Cameron-Smith.
“We have been very fortunate to be working with dealer H Drive to pioneer these vehicles,” he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon helped launched the buses and acknowledged the environmental benefits of the new vehicles.
“We are here to celebrate the ongoing evolution of the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre,” she said.
“The centre is a leader in sustainability and cultural preservation.
“We celebrate the centre’s most recent commission which will lead to a cleaner more sustainable future.”
H Drive general manager Dhresh Latchan said there was more to the buses than just transport.
“These vehicles aren’t just about getting from A to B,” he said.
“They are about respecting Country and reducing emissions. We believe that true progress is made when technology and tradition come together.”
Named Kurranji (cassowary) and Kurriyala (carpet snake), the new HDrive electric shuttle buses represent the first step in plans to upgrade at least half of the existing fleet to zero emissions E-Vehicles (EVs) within 12 months, with another two EVs set to arrive in FY26.
The new EVs will provide an eco-sensitive experience for the more than 300,000 guests who visit Mossman Gorge annually, helping to further reduce carbon emissions in the world’s oldest living rainforest and environmentally sensitive World Heritage listed Daintree National Park.
The fleet renewal compliments ongoing sustainability efforts including rooftop solar panels to help offset the buses’ energy needs, free guest e-vehicle charging stations and rainwater harvesting for grey water usage.
In addition, MGCC is celebrating a new initiative in partnership with the Mossman community and Ergon Energy – a high-voltage network-connected microgrid to be constructed at MGCC, designed to boost reliability, power quality and community resilience.
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