At the show, Volvo Buses unveiled a 12-metre version of its Volvo 7900 Electric vehicle (pictured) for series production. The latest addition is said to be 80% more energy efficient than a corresponding diesel bus; it goes on sale in 2016.
“We can now offer a complete product range enabling the creation of electrified bus systems – solutions that make it possible for all cities everywhere to step into the future,” says Håkan Agnevall, president of Volvo Buses.
The 7900’s lithium-ion batteries are charged both by the energy generated whenever the vehicle brakes, and also via the mains at the route’s end stops. Each charge via the mains takes three to six minutes, with each minute of charging giving 5-10 minutes of driving.
The bus is designed for routes of 10-20 km. It will be sold as a complete, turnkey solution encompassing financing, vehicle servicing and battery maintenance. The recharging infrastructure will also be included in the package through Volvo’s partnerships with Siemens and ABB.
The company also announced the inclusion of its Volvo Dynamic Steering system for several coach models.
In Europe, the system is being introduced on the Volvo 9500, 9700 and 9900 as well as chassis with 8- or 11-litre engines for Euro 6.
“Volvo Dynamic Steering has been a feature of Volvo’s trucks since 2013, and the system is rated highly. Now we want to give our bus customers the same opportunity to benefit from improved work environment and road safety,” says Peter Danielsson, head of vehicle features and safety at Volvo Buses.