[200720.EN.BIZ] Volvo Buses Announces Its First Electric Buses Into Australia

VOLVO Buses of Gothenburg and the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) are partnering to bring Volvo¡¯s first ever Electric Buses to Australia.

"Volvo aims to be a leader in electrification and to be a partner for cities that wish to implement long-term sustainable public transport solutions for their inhabitants," said Volvo Buses president Hakan Agnevall.

"We have been successful in Europe and in the Americas with electrified public transport solutions and we are now looking forward to bring our first electric buses in to Australia," he said.

Four Volvo electric buses will be delivered to the PTA as part of the existing 900 Bus Supply Agreement between Volvo and Transperth which was signed in March 2019. The Agreement includes provisions for the introduction of alternative powered vehicles into the public transport bus network when the technology became available in Volvo¡¯s Australian product line.

Said Volvo Buses Asia Pacific vice president David Mead: "Our relationship with the PTA now spans over a decade. Volvo¡¯s contract with PTA included a technology roadmap that allowed PTA to access diesel, self-charging electric and battery-electric vehicles over time."

Volvo's hybrid buses were first tested in Perth in 2013, which started hybrid bus sales across Australia.

"Trialling new, green technology is a great use of our public transport network, already one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get around Perth," said Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

"This is the first time we have trialled electric buses on a CAT route and I¡¯m excited to see what commuters think about this new technology," she said.

The units will be all-electric 11.7-metre long, 2.5 metre wide vehicles with local Australian bodies designed and built by Volgren Australia. These units will be the first of their kind for Volvo in the Asia-Pacific region, but the chassis¡¯ are based on established technology common in Europe.

Said Mr Mead: "By delivering the product in chassis form, we can work with long term Volgren to assemble the bus here in Australia. It also has allowed us to create new climate options for the vehicle, more suited to Australian conditions."

While handover of the first electric buses to the PTA is not scheduled until late next year, the planning is well underway. Implementing electric vehicles involves many more stakeholders than a traditional bus sale - with Volvo quoting that the planning for this project started last year.

Source : HKSG / Photo : YouTube.