Volvo Buses reveals Australia’s first electric articulated bus

Volvo Buses has unveiled its new Volvo BZL Electric Articulated bus in Australia, addressing the growing demand for high-capacity, zero-emission urban transport solutions.

The 18-meter, 57-seat Volvo BZL Electric Articulated is built on Volvo’s low-floor, fully electric articulated chassis. It is bodied locally by Volgren, Australia's largest bus body manufacturer, with production facilities in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland.

The Volvo BZL Electric (rigid) has been operating in Australia since 2022, when the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) became the first transit operator in the country to deploy Volvo electric buses with Volgren Optimum bodies. With more than 140 Volvo BZL Electric buses now operating nationally, the platform is backed by an established base of technical knowledge, operator confidence and local support.

“This is a genuine ‘Australia first’, and the Volvo BZL Electric Articulated has been built right here in Perth. It was developed with the Australian market in mind, and specifically to meet the needs of the PTA, an operator we have partnered with for more than a decade. Bringing a brand-new electric platform to market, locally bodied and tailored to the needs of the Perth transit network, is something we are incredibly proud of,” says Mark Fryer, Director, Product & Industry, Volvo Buses Asia Pacific. 

The longstanding partnership between the PTA and Volvo Buses spans more than a decade, with more than 1,400 Volvo buses delivered to date. The launch of Australia’s first electric articulated bus marks a significant milestone in that ongoing partnership.

VOLVO BZL ELECTRIC ARTICULATED – KEY FACTS

• Length: 18m
• Seating: 57
• Dual Motor EPT802 (2 x 200kW)
• LFP batteries
• 12 batteries fitted in total
• Total installed energy of 497 kWh
• CCS2 charging
   

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