A community e-bus pilot program for regional Australia

The two-year Gippsland community e-Bus pilot project aimed to answer the overarching question: Can community-led transport services provide transport options in regional areas where public transport is not possible. Along the way it would develop knowledge and resources that could be used by other communities considering a similar approach.

The project brought together the Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria), two local community organisations: Venus Bay Community Centre, Sandy Point Bus Management Committee, and La Trobe University’s Centre for Technology Infusion for its research expertise in this area.

Project resources on this page include:

• Full final report
• Toolkit (useful templates and documents for this kind of service)

There will also be a (recorded) online workshop on the 24th March 2026 to help others considering a similar approach to local transport in their community.

Background

The Gippsland Community e-Bus Pilot explored whether small, community-run electric buses could offer practical, inclusive, and sustainable transport for residents in the South Gippsland communities of Venus Bay and Sandy Point. With no public transport and only limited transport alternatives, both towns face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, shopping, social activities, and regional services.

Over two years, the project investigated how an electric vehicle, volunteer-based operations, and community-driven governance could work together to meet local mobility needs using electric buses purchased under the Victorian Government’s Flexible Local Transport Solutions Program.

In addition to the specific local needs, this project will inform Australian governments at all levels, and other rural communities, on future policy development with regards to community mobility services.

Two buses, two communities and different outcomes

Although Venus Bay and Sandy Point used the same type of vehicle, the practical delivery differed, influenced by geography, travel needs, volunteer availability and local expectations. The material that follows demonstrates how the service was used and managed, and the factors that influenced its performance.

There were also notable differences between the two communities in terms of how the service was used. Sandy Point travel tended to focus on nearby towns for social outings, and V/Line connections. Venus Bay residents used the service for a wider and more dispersed set of destinations, often linked to essential services such as groceries, banking, medical appointments and combined multi-purpose trips.

Usage patterns also suggest the service enabled trips that residents may otherwise have avoided. A significant proportion of respondents indicated that they would not have travelled at all without the e-Bus, particularly where driving long distances, night-time travel or confidence on rural roads were barriers.

Gippsland e-Bus: Driving connection

This 5-minute vdeo provides an overview of the project, its objectves, and achievement. It contains interviews with organisers and volunteers from Venus Bay and Sandy Point, representatives from the Department of Trnsport and Planning and iMOVE, and customers of the buses.

Project outcomes

The following is a summary of key outcomes from the pilot. Please refer to the final report for more detail.

1. The pilot established a dependable and well-functioning transport service where none previously existed.

Both communities successfully launched and operated a 10-seat (plus a wheelchair) electric minibus that provided regular and on-demand trips. The service offered residents consistent access to local and regional destinations. Some passengers reported they would not have travelled at all without the e-Bus, indicating that the service created new mobility opportunities in addition to replacing existing travel.

2. Social benefits were significant.

Residents described the service as friendly, convenient and important for staying connected. The e-Bus supported access to services, community events and V/Line connections. For older residents and people who are less able to drive, it enhanced independence and reduced isolation. Satisfaction was consistently high, with average ratings above 8.9 out of 10 in both communities.

3. The pilot generated economic and local benefits.

The e-Bus enabled access to important social outings which supported businesses and events in local towns, reduced travel costs, shopping in larger towns, and created new volunteering opportunities for some residents. For some households experiencing increasing costs to run their car/s, the service provided a cost-effective alternative. These benefits mirror broader evidence that community transport creates economic value not captured in traditional cost–benefit metrics.

4. Electric vehicles performed well but required careful management.

The electric minibuses delivered quiet, low-emission transport and were well received by passengers. However, range varied with weather, passenger load and use of heating or cooling, particularly on longer trips, leading to significant range anxiety. The quality of the vehicles was disappointing, with both experiencing several mechanical and electrical faults that required downtime. Solar generation contributed to charging, although grid electricity was still required.

5. Volunteer-led operations were effective but placed high demands on core volunteers.

Both towns recruited volunteer drivers and administrative volunteers, with a core group regularly undertaking the driving. Managing bookings, scheduling and communications required considerable time. Volunteers were proud of the service provided, they consistently demonstrated their commitment to the service, often going above and beyond to meet the needs of residents and visitors to the towns. They largely enjoyed the work but were conscious of the risk of burnout and could see the need for some paid coordination support to ensure long-term sustainability.

6. Booking systems worked but required manual effort.

Most residents preferred to book by phone. A variety of digital tools were explored, trialled and refined. Both communities developed different booking systems in response to community feedback, making use of readily available tools through website platforms or event booking tools, to develop simple online forms. However, these systems were supported by a lot of manual processes in the background, limiting scalability.

7. Financial sustainability requires ongoing external support.

Fundraising and donations contributed to operating costs but were not always sufficient to ensure financial certainty in the long term. Insurance, servicing, electricity, booking systems and coordination all require stable funding. Current national evidence shows that community transport is consistently under-resourced, and the experience of this pilot reinforces this finding.

The Gippsland Community e-Bus Pilot delivered a clear set of social, economic and environmental outcomes, with the strongest impact occurring in the domain of social inclusion.

The service addressed long-standing mobility gaps in Sandy Point and Venus Bay, enabling residents to reach essential services, participate in community life and maintain independence in settings where transport barriers are a daily reality.

The e-Bus also helped to reduce isolation and provided opportunities for shared activities, that played a role in community wellbeing.

Recommendations

For governments

• Develop a clear, inclusive definition of community transport
• Support place-based models and provide tools that match community capacity
• Develop sustainable funding approaches that reflect the realities of rural mobility
• Invest in simple and affordable digital tools for booking and scheduling
• Simplify accreditation, compliance and reporting requirements
• Strengthen electric vehicle readiness in regional and community transport
• Improve coordination between community transport and regional public transport
• Support further pilots to deepen understanding of rural mobility needs and long-term service models

For communities and local organisations

• Build a sustainable and distributed volunteer model
• Put in place clear organisational and operational systems
• Communicate in ways that match community preferences
• Select vehicles suited to local conditions and driver capability
• Apply fair and transparent pricing where appropriate
• Explore opportunities to increase vehicle utilisation
• Maintain partnerships with local sustainability and community energy groups

Download the final report

Download your copy of the final report, Gippsland Community e-Bus Pilot: A case study of community-led transport in Venus Bay and Sandy Point, by clicking the button below.

Download the toolkit

As the project developed, as set of forms, FAQ, guides, etc. were developed for use, and are provided below for those looking to implement a similar service.

The toolkit download is a zipped file – be sure to check your computer’s Dpwnloads folder for the files.

Webinar

A webinar presenting outcomes from this project is being held on 24 March 2026. A video or the event will be published at: Building community transport: Gippsland eBus pilot lessons.