SWEDEN: Uddevalla Omnibus has purchased five hybrid buses and a quintet of ambulance coaches from Volvo Buses. All of them will operate on bio-diesel and are due to enter service with the West coast operator in June.
“With the hybrid buses, we will meet the environmental requirements of the future. Our plan is to successively replace all our current city buses with hybrids,” said Lars-Göran Salevik, President of Uddevalla Omnibus.
The Volvo 7900 Hybrid has nearly 40% lower fuel consumption and about 50% less exhaust emission, compared with a corresponding diesel bus. Uddevalla Omnibus will be using renewable RME (Rapeseed Methyl Ester) as fuel. Maintenance of all the vehicles is being outsourced to Volvo.
“We previously tested one of Volvo’s hybrid buses in Uddevalla, with very positive results. We will now specially train our drivers in groups to handle the new buses.”
The hybrid buses enter service in mid-June. At the same time, Uddevalla Omnibus will commence operating an ambulance service between Åmål and Gothenburg, using five new Volvo 9700 coaches.
“The ambulance coaches offer a high level of comfort and are equipped with such features as special toilets allowing disabled access,” said Lars-Göran Salevik.
“The hybrids will require specific expertise, for example, in electrotechnology and batteries, which we do not possess. The ambulance buses will be based in Åmål and since Volvo has a workshop there, it is practical for any servicing to be conducted by its mechanics on location.
Founded in 1922, Uddevalla Omnibus is owned by Uddevalla municipality. It operates an 80-strong fleet. Visit it’s website at www.uddevalla-omnibus.se
