Unpacking the Roadblocks of Australias Battery Electric Bus Transition : Socio-Technical Regime Dynamics and Governance Processes

Sammanfattning

The transition to battery electric buses (BEBs) is often presented as a straightforward technological solution to transport decarbonisation. However, replacing diesel fleets requires far more than vehicle substitution, as public transport systems are deeply embedded within existing socio-technical structure. This thesis examines how regime structures, actor dynamics, and governance processes shape the Australian BEB transition. Drawing on sustainability transition theory, the study integrates the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP), power dynamics, and collaborative governance theory as an analytical lens. A qualitative research design was adopted using semi-structured interviews with operators, manufacturers, transport departments, and industry actors involved in the Australian bus sector. The data was analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. The findings show that the transition is constrained by structural lock-ins from the legacy diesel regime, including infrastructure, procurement models, regulatory standards, supply chain dependencies, and workforce routines. Electrification also redistributes dependencies across the system, especially toward governments and distribution network service providers (DNSPs). At the same time, fragmented governance, inconsistent state-level approaches, and weak coordination across actors limit the capacity for collective action. The thesis argues that the Australian BEB transition is not merely a technological challenge, but a socio-technical and political reconfiguration. Understanding how structural, relational, and governance dynamics interact provides important insight into why sustainability transitions are often slower, more contested, and more complex than policy suggests.