Go-Ahead, the largest operator of bus services in London, is to add 25 BZL Electric single deck buses to its fleet later this year – its first electric vehicle order with Volvo.
Each MCV-bodied vehicle will be built with four traction batteries, allowing for a maximum 376kWh of energy storage – with regenerative braking helping to top this up with free and clean energy.
Charging will mainly take place overnight at the bus depot, via CCS 2 cable and a bank of 150kW DC chargers.
They will be built to Transport for London (TfL) specifications and, measuring 9.7m in length, they will offer exceptional manoeuvrability on routes within the capital.
While Volvo Buses is traditionally best-known for its longer buses, the BZL Electric affords it the flexibility to offer single deck buses in lengths from 9m to 12.9m.
Once they have been delivered into service in London, the new vehicles will be supported by a specialist bus field service team at local dealer Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East.
Matt Carney, CEO, Go-Ahead Bus, said: “Volvo Buses have been a staple of the Go-Ahead fleet in London for decades, and we’re excited to be introducing our first BZL Electrics into the capital.
“They’ll replace a mixture of older diesel and hybrid assets in our fleet, helping to further improve the sustainability of our operation.
“Placing this order with Volvo directly supports our customer-first culture, known internally as the ‘Go-Ahead Way’.
“Through this, we pride ourselves in selecting superior vehicles and collaborating with trusted partners to innovate and invest in the services we deliver.”
