The new 10.5 metre Euro 6 vehicles are being built to TfL specification and are capable of carry up to 95 passengers. They are due to enter service on 7 March 2015.
According to Volvo, they will deliver fuel and CO2 reductions of around 39%, compared to conventional diesel double-deck buses, due to the Volvo designed and built parallel hybrid.
The B5LH uses Volvo's D5K 240 four-cylinder 5.1-litre Euro 6 engine rated at 240bhp and delivering maximum torque of 918Nm at 1,200—1,600rpm. Volvo's fully automated 12-speed I-Shift gearbox completes the drivetrain.
Vehicle emissions comply with Euro 6, controlled using SCR (selective catalytic reduction) and EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) technologies.
"These buses represent a considerable investment in Volvo hybrid technology integrated with the Wrightbus Gemini 3 body," comments Alan Coney, engineering director for Tower Transit.
"We look forward to delivering a real quality product to our customer, TfL [Transport for London], and the travelling public,"
The new buses will be maintained on a Volvo Gold service contract toi maximise uptime and vehicle performance.