Volvo Buses
Global
The world’s most flexible platforms for electric buses
One size doesn’t fit all. That’s why we’ve created two flexible platforms for electric buses and coaches, adaptable to a wide range of needs – from low-floor access and high passenger capacity, to long-distance comfort and extended operating range. Whatever the challenge, there’s a solution that suits.
Start with your transport needs
In any passenger transport planning, the basic yet complex question is: how many people are travelling, and where are they going? The answer ultimately determines how to tailor the vehicle fleet for the task. Will articulated, bi-articulated, or even double-decker vehicles be needed to meet capacity? Will a comfortable, electric low-entry bus suit intercity operations, or will an electric coach do a better job? It all starts with the passengers – and their needs.
Take on any route
Short inner-city routes with frequent stops and high demands on efficient passenger flow – or long distances at high speed with few stops? High energy capacity, or optimisation for fast charging en route? With our Volvo BZL Electric and Volvo BZR Electric platforms, you’re ready to handle it all – and everything in between.
Battery-electric buses
High or low. Long or short.
How many passengers are there, and how quickly do they need to move in and out of the bus? Standing, seated, or a combination of both? Do the routes involve physical limitations in vehicle length or height? All of these are decisive factors when choosing the floor configuration.
- Low-floor
- Low-floor, articulated
- Low-floor, double-decker
- Low-entry
- High-floor
- High-floor, articulated
Low-floor city buses
Two-axle, low-floor electric buses are ideal for city operation (Class I) with the flexibility to step in where they are most needed. With a length of up to 12 metres, they are suitable to host up to 90 passengers, whereof 50 seated. The level boarding aligned to regular curbs make them accessible and quick to board.
Low floor, articulated city buses
Three-axle, articulated, low-floor electric buses are ideal for city operation (Class I) where large passenger capacity is needed. With a length of up to 18.7 metres, they are suitable to host up to 150 passengers. The level boarding aligned to regular curbs make them accessible and quick to board.
Double-decker buses
Two-axle, low-floor, double-decker electric buses are ideal for city operation (Class I) where high passenger capacity is needed and vehicle length is a critical factor. Within a vehicle lenght less than 11 metres, its’ possible to bring over 80 passengers. The level boarding aligned to regular curbs make them accessible and quick to board.
Low-entry city and intercity buses
Low-entry electric buses with two or three axles are versatile tools that to operate in cities (Class I) – as well around, and between cities (Class II) with the flexibility to step in where they are most needed. The Volvo 8900 Electric can bring up to 110 passengers, whereof 57 seated. The Volvo BZR Low Entry Electric chassis is available with a range of body builder solutions for different needs. The level boarding aligned to regular curbs make them accessible and quick to board.
High-floor coaches
High-floor electric coaches with two or three axles are suited for Class III regional routes, airport transfer and commuter services, as well as non-scheduled coach operations. High level of comfort for up to 67 passengers, along with options tailored for long-distance operating range.
High-floor, articulated and bi-articulated BRT buses
Three-axle articulated and four-axle bi-articulated electric buses with high floor offer high passenger capacity and efficiency in BRT operations in and around cities (Class I). The they can take up to 300 passengers and the level boarding aligned to dedicated BRT platforms them accessible and quick to board.
Route considerations
Hills, tunnels, and roundabouts
Where do you plan your routes? In broad, straight designated bus lanes – or through winding, narrow streets? Is there space available for bus stops, and even for en-route charging stations? And what about topography – is it flat or hilly? These are the factors that narrow down the choices.
Charging
Volvo’s electric buses have the flexibility of both depot charging and en-route charging built in. En-route charging reduces battery capacity needs but requires charging stations along the route – will this be possible on your network? Depot charging not only requires more battery capacity but also higher grid capacity when multiple vehicles are charged at the same time.
Hill climbing
If your routes include steep hills, you’ll need a powertrain with higher output and larger battery capacity compared to routes with flat topography. Regenerative braking will recover some energy on downhill stretches, but the steeper the hills, the more energy and power you’ll require.
Cornering and road space
You’ll need to review the sharpness of corners and the space available on your routes. The longer the vehicles and the more axles they have, the greater the passenger capacity. But if your routes include narrow road sections and busy city streets with sharp corners, two-axle buses with higher departure frequency, or double-decker buses, are often more effective solutions for high passenger capacity than articulated or bi-articulated vehicles.
Bus stops
What’s the passenger base along the route, and where is the strongest demand? The positioning of stops will be decisive for efficiency and success. You need to secure enough space to establish bus stops for vehicles that match the capacity needs. And to serve a large passenger base, you may require designated bus lanes and platforms – known as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Battery size
The trading game
Optimising battery size is a balancing act. More capacity means a battery-electric bus with longer operating range and better margins in extreme conditions, as well as compensation for battery degradation with age. At the same time, more batteries add weight and cost to the equation. En-route charging reduces capacity needs but requires charging stations along the route.
Passenger comfort
Make the bus the first choice
Vehicles with low interior noise, minimal vibrations, convenient entry and exit, and comfortable seating make travel more attractive. Comfortable vehicles strengthen the preference for bus travel and, over time, lead more people to choose the bus.
Sustainability
A sustainable life cycle
Electric buses and coaches have the potential to provide travel that’s sustainable throughout the entire value chain. To make that happen, you need a partner with a holistic view of sustainability – from material sourcing and manufacturing to usage and end of life. With Volvo Buses’ transparent life-cycle assessments, you get the tools to drive real impact.
Sourcing materials
Volvo Buses sets the bar high by sourcing only materials free from substances of concern, while respecting both the environment and human rights. One of the main tools to achieve this is the Volvo Group Supply Partner Code of Conduct, which outlines the high standards of environmental practice, human rights, and health and safety that we expect from our suppliers.
Manufacturing the sustainable way
Wherever we manufacture, sustainability is built in from the start. The Volvo Buses factory in Borås is a flagship for sustainable production – powered entirely by renewable energy and with zero waste to landfill. And while this plant leads the way, the same principles guide our other facilities worldwide as we continue to reduce energy use, cut waste, and build circularity into production.
The user phase
The energy used to operate an electric bus or coach is the single most decisive factor in its life cycle footprint. Access to renewable energy makes all the difference. But maintenance, repairs, and the production and transport of spare parts also play a significant role in shaping the total environmental impact.
Closing the loop
We engineer our products to be durable during their lifetime while also facilitating reuse of components as well as recycling of materials. To use resources responsibly – we look into remanufacturing batteries for new products, alongside using old batteries in other appliances and recycling the materials.
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