AUSTRALIA Volvo Buses has received an order for eight hybrids in Australia, the biggest order to date in that market. Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL) based east of Melbourne in southeast Australia has ordered eight single-deck Euro 6 B5LH chassis following the successful 12-month trial of a Volvo hybrid. The buses will be bodied locally in Melbourne by Volgren and will be delivered over three years with the first due into service in 2018.
“Volvo’s hybrid buses are part of our ongoing approach to sustainable transport solutions and we are proud to be working on this project with Latrobe Valley Bus Lines,” said David Mead, Acting General Manager, Volvo Bus Australia. “It’s great to see Public Transport Victoria and Latrobe Valley taking the first step on the longer journey towards fully electric buses in the years to come.
“Whilst we have seen the technology run now in Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Wollongong, this is the first time we have the Government, an operator and our partners aligned to move forward on a project.”
