Volvo Buses
Global
360° e-mobility
Adopting a holistic approach to electrification will create lasting benefits for future generations. Electric bus systems, both in cities and over longer distances, have the potential to address multiple challenges, offering a broader perspective on sustainability that enhances the quality of life for citizens.
A new standard for road travel
Transforming to e-mobility sets a new standard for travel – to the benefit not only of passengers. With lower noise, fewer vibrations, and cleaner air, it also improves the working environment for drivers and staff in passenger transport operations. And for those living and working close to traffic, it brings a major improvement in quality of life, with e-mobility setting the standard.
The sustainability effect
The advantages of e-mobility go beyond cleaner air and reduced noise. With a holistic approach, ripple effects follow: as public transport improves and gains popularity, emissions and congestion decrease, and traffic safety improves. When systems are built with responsibly sourced materials, societies contribute not only to lower emissions but also to greater social responsibility worldwide. That is true sustainable development.
Elements of the e-bus system
Electromobility goes beyond buses – it’s a system where all the parts included are also interconnected. Adopting the idea of a system unlocks the potential to draw the full benefits on your investments. Explore the elements.
Routes that connect
Every e-bus investment begins with the need for people to travel from one place to another and planning the routes. The route determines vehicle types, charging strategies, schedules, and sensitive zones. Yet planning can be as ambitious and creative as you make it. By involving vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure experts, and energy companies from the start, you can discover opportunities for smarter routes, stronger economy, and greater benefits for citizens.
Vehicles that do the job
Although your e-mobility system is more than just its vehicles, making the right choices in balancing capacity, range, efficiency, comfort, and life-cycle cost is key to success. With Volvo Buses, you can choose from a portfolio spanning low-floor city buses, low-entry intercity buses, and electric coaches for longer distances. A wide variety of axle and floor configurations enables precise tailoring to your system.
Optimising battery capacity
A concrete plan covering routes, passenger volumes, and vehicle specifications provides a solid basis for estimating energy consumption. It also creates a strong starting point for choosing a charging strategy and defining battery needs. The goal is to cover routes even in worst-case scenarios without oversizing, and Volvo offers a wide range of energy capacities and battery configurations.
Charging strategy and infrastructure
Your charging strategy determines both the battery configuration and where charging takes place. Specify vehicles with enough capacity for a full day’s work, or charge en route to reduce vehicle weight and battery costs – or choose a mix. High-capacity en-route charging and depot charging solutions are available.
Designing for stability and value
Replacing diesel buses with electric models may seem straightforward, but it risks missing the mark. To create real value, it’s essential to start fresh and consider new parameters, which are best understood by stakeholders across the e-mobility ecosystem.
Calculate environmental footprint for the full life cycle
Choose partners who provide transparent, verified data on their products’ environmental footprint across their lifetime. A thorough life-cycle assessment – from raw materials through use to end-of-life – is the only credible way to declare the footprint of your e-mobility system.
Smooth operation
Running an e-bus fleet is similar to, yet very different from, running a diesel fleet. Volvo Buses supports you with a range of solutions that make the transition smoother.
Our usable energy commitment
Together, we analyse your routes and operational parameters to define the required energy capacity. We then sign a contract guaranteeing that your buses will be able to charge with that amount of energy throughout the entire contract period.
Fleet management for e-mobility
Track everything from energy use and charging to battery health and service needs. Fleet management based on real-time data and predictive maintenance keeps fleets efficient, sustainable, and on the road.
Pay per kilometre with Volvo Turnkey
Volvo Turnkey is an all-inclusive solution that includes a specified availability of fully operational vehicles at an agreed cost. The operator benefits from improved equity and cash-flow, predictable operational cost and improved passenger satisfaction.
Vehicle data access
The endless stream of data your vehicles generate in operation needs to be properly gathered and used to improve productivity, uptime, and availability. Volvo Buses Data Access Services capture it in the way that best suits your operation.
How can we help?
Most cities and operators have different needs, depending on where they are on their electromobility transformation journey. Volvo Buses is there to help, whether you’re starting from scratch or need to fine-tune your e-mobility system.
Simulations and predictions
Skip the guesswork. Instead, let us make simulations on your routes, planned for your needs in your conditions – taking worst-case scenarios into account. That’s how we can provide the right solutions for solid operations over time.
Transformation at large scale
With long-standing experience working closely with cities and operators, we’re here to support large-scale transformations – just as we did with the rollout of 145 Volvo Electric Articulated buses in Gothenburg.
Managing the investment
Manage the upfront investments of your e-mobility transformation. Volvo Financial Services provides tailored financing and leasing solutions to help operators control their cash flow and reduce risk.
Frequently asked questions
360° e-mobility is all about adopting a holistic approach to electrification to let the investments create lasting benefits for future generations. Electrification has the potential to address multiple challenges in society – and executed with a holistic view, it provides a broader perspective on sustainability that enhances the quality of life for citizens.
Volvo Buses sees e-mobility as an ecosystem comprising electric buses, charging solutions, energy providers, operators, transport authorities, policymakers, and city planning.
Volvo buses can be charged in the depot, en route, or using both alternatives. The buses can be built with CCS charging ports or an opportunity charging solutions for automated high-speed charging utilising Volvo Buses' open standard OppCharge. The same vehicle can have both charging solutions if needed.
For each product, Volvo Buses conducts transparent life-cycle assessments (LCA). The analysis covers the entire chain, from the extraction of raw materials and resources used for manufacturing to the resources needed to operate, maintain, service, and repair the vehicle throughout its lifetime – and finally the end-of-life process.
Volvo Connect is a bus fleet management system and the entrance to the world of Volvo Bus Services where connected services as well as documentation and workshop tools are accessible in one place.
Integrating with the power grid and charging infrastructure is part of Volvo's 360° e-mobility approach – meaning the buses, charging solutions and power grid are planned jointly. Volvo buses are available with CCS charging ports and the opportunity charging solution OppCharge.
Volvo Turnkey is an all-inclusive solution that includes a specified availability of fully operational vehicles at an agreed cost. The operator benefits from improved equity and cash-flow with predictable operational cost.
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