The operator is to take delivery of 25 short-wheelbase examples of Volvo’s MCV-bodied electric bus
Volvo Buses has secured its first electric vehicle order from Go Ahead. The company will add 25 Volvo BZL electric single-deck buses to its fleet later this year, building on a longstanding relationship between manufacturer and operator. They will be built to Transport for London (TfL) specifications, and measure 9.7m in length to suit routes within the capital.
Each MCV-bodied vehicle will be built with four traction batteries, allowing for a maximum 376kWh of energy storage, topped up by regenerative braking. Charging will take place primarily overnight at the depot via a CCS2 cable from a bank of 150kW DC chargers.
CEO of Go-Ahead Bus Matt Carney said: “Volvo Buses have been a staple of the Go-Ahead fleet in London for decades, and we’re excited to be introducing our first BZL Electrics into the capital. They’ll replace a mixture of older diesel and hybrid assets in our fleet, helping to further improve the sustainability of our operation. Placing this order with Volvo directly supports our customer-first culture, known internally as the ‘Go-Ahead Way.’ Through this, we pride ourselves in selecting superior vehicles and collaborating with trusted partners to innovate and invest in the services we deliver.”
Volvo Bus UK & Ireland Managing Director Domenico Bondi commented: “Securing our first Volvo BZL Electric order from Go-Ahead is another significant vote of confidence in our zero tailpipe emission range and the huge investment we’ve made in the aftersales support here in the UK to support them. The breadth of options we can offer when it comes to vehicle lengths, energy storage and charging flexibility means customers don’t have to compromise. The BZL Electric is a proven product, being built for cities around the world, and with that comes access to maximum customer choice.”
The new buses will be manufactured at Volvo Buses’ chassis plant in Borås, Sweden, which five years ago became the first bus chassis plant globally to be powered by 100% renewable energy, as well as being certified as a manufacturing site which sends zero waste to landfill. Upon delivery to London, the new vehicles will be supported by a specialist Bus Field Service Team within local dealer Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East comprising operations controllers, coordinators and front-line mobile technicians who support Volvo bus and coach customers across the region.
