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Gothenburg welcomes Volvo electric buses

Posted: 7 May 2015 | Katie Sadler, Digital Content Producer, Intelligent Transport

New Volvo electric buses are being tested in Gothenburg ahead of an official launch on the 15 June 2015. The Volvo electric buses will serve route 55 between Lindholmen and Chalmers/Johanneberg in Gothenburg. This new route will be served by three all-electric buses and seven electric hybrids. The vehicles are equipped with battery packs that can […]

Gothenburg welcomes Volvo electric buses

New Volvo electric buses are being tested in Gothenburg ahead of an official launch on the 15 June 2015.

Gothenburg welcomes Volvo electric buses

The Volvo electric buses will serve route 55 between Lindholmen and Chalmers/Johanneberg in Gothenburg. This new route will be served by three all-electric buses and seven electric hybrids. The vehicles are equipped with battery packs that can be quick-charged with renewable electricity at their end terminals. Energy consumption of the electric buses is about 80 per cent lower than that of corresponding diesel buses. The introduction of the new buses is the result of a cooperative venture known as ElectriCity, which develops, demonstrates and evaluates innovative solutions for future sustainable public transport. The cooperative comprises of industry and city planners and the research community.

Before the Volvo electric bus enters regular operation, it will be tested on the roads of Gotherburg and fine-tuned to meet specific requirements. Driver training on the new buses will also take place.

Håkan Agnevall, President Volvo Buses commented on the delivery of electric buses: “Right now we are carrying out final testing to ensure everything works just as it should when regular traffic gets under way. This marks a major milestone in our development of new solutions for electrified buses. Quiet and entirely exhaust-free operation will contribute both to a better urban environment and reduced climate impact, while passengers get a more pleasant ride.”

Agnevall highlighted the impact passenger wishes had on the design of the new electric bus and continued: “For instance, all boarding and exiting is quick and convenient via an extra-wide door opening with a low entry in the middle of the bus. Here there is a large area with a low, flat floor, to make things easier for passengers with child buggies or wheelchairs.” The bus also features onboard Wi-Fi.

The bus is more than a metre shorter than a conventional bus at 10.7 metres long but has the capacity to carry 86 passengers; this is due to the central location of the driver’s seat.

The Volvo Buses range of electrified buses includes the previously launched Volvo 7900 Hybrid and the Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid which was launched in autumn 2014. Unlike these two, the new electric bus is a concept vehicle. Series production of all-electric Volvo buses is scheduled for 2017

The Volvo electric buses will be shown at the UITP public-transport show in Milan on 8th -10th June 2015.

 

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