Tropic Wings

About

Tropic Wings is a family-operated Cairns tour and charter operator offering tours, converting its fleet to battery-electric buses, installing EV chargers and battery storage, and producing BEV transition guidance.

Mission

Tropic Wings is a family-operated tour and charters business based in Cairns, Far North Queensland. The company provides private tour and charter services and has prioritized sustainability, buying a battery-powered bus in 2019 — the first used in Australia outside the public transport sector. Tropic Wings plans to transition nearly a third of its fleet to battery electric vehicles by acquiring 12 electric buses. ARENA funding will support installation of 11 electric vehicle chargers, associated enabling infrastructure, and two battery energy storage systems to optimise renewable electricity use and provide resilience during storms and emergencies. The project includes collaboration with the Electric Vehicle Council to translate lessons into a blueprint for BEV fleet transitions in the tourism sector. The company secured $4.75 million from ARENA’s Driving the Nation Fund to enable this expansion of its electric fleet.

Quick Facts