The Volvo BZL is a full-size zero-emission battery electric bus chassis for both single-decker buses and double-decker buses, manufactured by Volvo since 2021.[3]
Volvo BZL | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Volvo Buses |
Production | 2021– |
Assembly | Borås, Sweden |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Electric bus |
Doors | 1, 2 or 3 |
Floor type | Low floor |
Related | Volvo BZR |
Powertrain | |
Power output | 400 kW, 31 kNm |
Transmission | Volvo I-Shift 2-speed AMT |
Battery | 282/376/470 kWh 600 V lithium iron phosphate (NCA in Australia)[1] |
Plug-in charging | 300 kW (OppCharge roof charging) 150 kW CCS |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 3,700 millimetres (150 in) |
Length |
|
Width | 2,500 millimetres (8.2 ft) |
Curb weight | 19,500 kilograms (43,000 lb) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Volvo B5LH Volvo B8RLE |
The BZL Electric range was launched in September 2021, with the first right-hand drive examples being built as demonstrators for the UK and Ireland market, using double-decker and single-decker bodies by MCV Bus & Coach. The chassis range features CO2 heat pump-powered heating and ventilation, and is claimed to be 90% recyclable. It is also built to a high safety standard with multiple new safety innovations such as sealed battery compartments and a strengthened front frame.[4][5][2]
Operators
editUnited Kingdom
editThe first 25 Volvo BZLs for the United Kingdom began to be delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland for use in Ayrshire in February 2023.[6] The first double-deck MCV-bodied BZLs followed in May 2023, with 30 entering service with Stagecoach East in Cambridge for use on the city's park and ride system.[7][8] Stagecoach Manchester's Stockport depot is to take delivery 150 double-deck and 20 single-deck BZLs in summer 2024, the largest zero-emissions bus order by the Stagecoach Group to date.[9]
In London, Metroline was the first Transport for London operator to order Volvo BZLs, ordering forty-eight MCV-bodied single-deck BZLs in November 2022,[10] the first 14 of which entered service on route 251 from January 2024.[11] Metroline are also scheduled to take delivery of a further 28 BZL single-decks for use on routes 228 and 316 during the first quarter of 2024.[12] Stagecoach London followed with an order for 19 single-deck BZLs, which entered service on route 276,[13] following with a further order of 16 single-decks for route 314 and 45 double decks for routes 58, 277 and D7.[citation needed] Arriva London announced in July 2024 that it plans to take delivery of 51 double-deck BZLs for use on routes 243 and 341 from early 2025.[14]
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Warrington's Own Buses plans to take delivery of 105 single and double-deck BZLs to replace the operator's entire diesel bus fleet, with deliveries planned to commence in early 2024,[15] while Lothian Buses plans to take delivery of 50 double-deck BZLs in two batches for service in Edinburgh in 2024.[16] Demonstrator models have entered service with Stagecoach South in Winchester,[17] East Yorkshire in Kingston upon Hull,[18][19] and First South Yorkshire in Sheffield.[20]
Australia
editIn Australia, a BZL with a Volgren Optimus single-decker body designed for the Australia and New Zealand market was unveiled in October 2021 at Volvo's Australian headquarters in Brisbane.[21][22] The first four Volgren-bodied BZLs entered service with Transperth in the suburbs of Perth between February and March 2022,[23] followed by the first of 17 BZLs ordered for Transdev Queensland in February 2023,[24][25] and two BZLs for the Transport for Brisbane for use on the Spring Hill Loop service in May 2023.[26]
Other markets
editIn Singapore, a Volvo BZL with a three-door SC Neustar City body, unveiled in November 2022 and developed in joint partnership between Volvo and local bus and coach bodywork manufacturer SC Auto, entered service on a one-year trial with Tower Transit Singapore starting 26 March 2023.[27] In Colombia, a Volvo BZL built with Marcopolo bodywork was unveiled at a tech expo in the capital Bogotá in June 2023 for use on the city's TransMilenio bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the first bus from a European manufacturer to be delivered to the country; this BZL began trial operations in Curitiba in Brazil, with further trials in the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile to follow.[28][29][30]
References
edit- ^ "BZL Electric chassis specifications". Volvo Bus. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ a b Render, Stuart (10 December 2021). "Volvo continues its electric journey". Buses. Stamford: Key Publishing. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Volvo BZL Electric bus chassis". Volvo Bus. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Volvo launches BZL Electric; UK demonstration to start soon". Route One. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "Volvo Buses launches new BZL e-bus platform". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ "First Volvo BZL deliveries for Stagecoach West Scotland". routeone. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
- ^ "ZEBRA buses for Cambridge imminent". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ Halford, Paul (12 May 2023). "New electric buses for Cambridge builds on 'strong partnership' for Stagecoach and Volvo". routeone. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Volvo BZL to form Stagecoach Stockport 170 e-bus fleet". routeone. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Metroline orders 48 Volvo BZL electric single-deckers". routeone. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ Peat, Chris (12 January 2024). "Volvo BZL single-deckers entering service with Metroline". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Halford, Paul (8 June 2023). "Metroline to add 28 Volvo BZL electric single-deckers". routeone. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "London order takes Stagecoach Volvo BZL total to 244". routeone. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Arriva London orders 51 Volvo BZL electric double-deckers". routeone. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ Deakin, Tim (2 May 2023). "Volvo BZL intended to form Warrington electric bus fleet". routeone. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Deakin, Tim (20 September 2023). "Lothian Buses orders 50 Volvo BZL double-deckers". routeone. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ Peat, Chris (12 July 2023). "MP considers funding after electric Volvo trial". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ Peat, Chris (8 August 2023). "Volvo BZL makes for a first in Hull". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Page, Mark (8 August 2023). "Battery-powered electric bus transports Hull-area passengers for the first time". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Volvo BZL Electric put through its paces in Sheffield". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Volvo launches new BZL Electric bus chassis". Trucksales. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
- ^ Cotter, Fabian (15 February 2022). "Milestone 200,000th Volvo bus chassis Oz bound". Australasian Bus & Coach. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "Volvo Volgren BZL electric buses successfully delivering cleaner transport to Perth". Australasian Bus & Coach. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ Vorrath, Sophie (13 January 2023). "Queensland adds 17 new electric buses to its fleet, powered by solar depot". TheDriven.io. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Volvo supports local in new electric bus delivery spree". Australasian Bus & Coach. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "Volvo BZLs are Volgren's 50th e-buses". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Kok, Yufeng (17 November 2022). "Made in S'pore: Local bus builders eye slice of electrification pie". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ "Volvo Buses launches the BZL, the electric superbus for urban applications". Busworld Latin America. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ Chávez, Elkin (1 June 2023). "Llega a Colombia el Volvo BZL, chasis de bus 100% eléctrico para operaciones urbanas" [The Volvo BZL arrives in Colombia, 100% electric bus chassis for urban operations]. Autocosmos Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Volvo BZL starts trials in Brazil". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
External links
editMedia related to Volvo BZL at Wikimedia Commons