After launching Australia's first hybrid bus on 4th March 2009 with The Honourable Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike at the Melbourne Museum, Crown Coaches is now able to offer a 100% plug-in electric coach for charter.  

Our BCI (Bus and Coach International) Proma Electric has been on the road for approximately 9 months performing school run duties and charter, it is easily distinguished from the rest of our fleet with a new silver/blue livery.  

Able to carry 28 passengers or 8 wheelchairs in comfort and safety, the BCI Proma Electric offers the latest green technology.  

Crown Coaches Pty. Ltd. has invested in plug-in electric technology as part of our Greenhouse Challenge Plus efforts.   Crown joined the Greenhouse Challenge Plus in 2000, it is an Industry-Government partnership which aims to:

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including promotion of awareness of greenhouse gas abatement opportunities in industry)
• accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency
• integrate greenhouse issues into business decision-making
• provide more consistent reporting of greenhouse gas emissions levels.

Electricity consumed when charging is generated by 100% renewable resources, meaning zero carbon emissions and no "black balloons".  

A percentage of our total electricity demand is allocated especially for the BCI Proma Electric and is supplied by AGL GreenPower.  Charger monitoring has been possible with equipment from Network Technologies Incorporated, allowing us to track the number of kilowatt hours used.