One of Volvo leading advocates of green technologies, Vice President of Electromobility Business Development Marie Carlsson, emphasised the benefits of electromobility during a visit to Stagecoach East’s Cambridgeshire depot. The visit followed Volvo Buses’ partnership with Stagecoach East earlier this year to supply 30 BZL Electric double-deckers to electrify the Cambridge park & ride network, the first of their kind to be delivered to a UK customer.
Marie was well received after sharing a scientific study initiated by ElectriCity in collaboration with Volvo Buses, the City of Gothenburg, Västtrafik, and Gothenburg University, which focused on the impact of electric buses on noise levels, noise disturbance, and public health.
The findings revealed a significant reduction in noise levels by five to seven decibels, resulting in an up to 50% decrease in noise. Survey participants also reported improved sleep quality during the night and people living along the route said they saw an improvement in their general health.
Marie said: “Electromobility isn’t just about a cleaner future; it’s also about a quieter one. Electric buses offer a resounding solution to the noise pollution that plagues our cities.
“With their silent operation, electric buses provide a pathway to more peaceful streets, making significant strides in reducing noise pollution, improving the overall urban environment, and promoting a quieter and more pleasant atmosphere for residents and commuters. When cities choose electric buses, they’re not just making an eco-conscious choice; they’re creating a soundscape where ‘quiet’ and ‘clean’ go hand in hand.”
Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, added: “We were very pleased to welcome Marie at the depot, along with her colleagues Niklas Emlind Vahul and Phil Fletcher. It is a point of great pride to us that we are partnered with Volvo Buses to run our electric buses in Cambridge and the surrounding area. Our engineers and the engineers from Volvo have been able to work closely together to improve the service for our passengers.
“We often think of pollution in terms of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, and clearly electric buses are an important way of combating such problems, but noise pollution is another part of the puzzle and we need to work on it where we can do so in a safe and responsible way.”
