“Refurbishing the buses instead of purchasing new ones is a fantastic way of managing our investment. We can extend the life of our buses by four or five years with a limited additional investment, while simultaneously reducing the vehicles’ environmental impact and providing passengers with a more pleasant and safer travel experience,” says Karl Orton, Technical Director at Keolis Sweden.
All of the vehicles are articulated buses of the model Volvo 8500 and were delivered in 2004 and 2005. In addition to a complete interior and exterior refurbishing, the order also comprises the replacement of the engines. A third of the buses will also be equipped with a new exhaust treatment system that significantly reduces the emission of particles and nitric oxide. Work will commence in September.
The order, which was secured by Volvo Buses in the Nordic Region, is based on a partnership between several areas of Volvo’s organization. The body overhaul will be conducted by Volvo Buses in Säffle and the plant-overhauled engines will be delivered by Volvo in Flen and installed by Volvo Truck Center in Huddinge.
“Mobilizing resources from different areas enables us to offer a turnkey solution under which we act as the principal partner with overall responsibility,” says Martin Spjern, Market Manager at Volvo Buses in the Nordic Region.
“This solution enables us to conduct a single transaction instead of multiple transactions, which provides a sense of comfort and reliability,” says Karl Orton.