ABC #395

COVERSTORY
VOLVO-VOLGREN E-BUS
The Volvo
electric chassis
is based on
established
Volvo
technology
already
implemented
in Europe.
Above:
“Volvo Buses
have long been
recognised as a
leader in electromobility
and
sustainable public
transport,” said
David Mead.
Below:
The lithium-ion
batteries are
located on the
roof of the bus.
Specs
MAKE: Volvo
MODEL: Electric Chassis Concept
LENGTH: 11m - 12.5m
DRIVELINE: One or two electric
motors, two-speed transmission;
Power (max.) – 1x or 2x 200kW,
Torque (max.) – 1,900Nm at the
driven axle
BATTERIES: Lithium-ion, up to
470kWh capacity
CHASSIS: Full low-floor
CHARGING: CCS system
well proven as the backbone for
our complete electric buses in
Europe, where they have been in
operation since 2015.
“ delivering the product in
chassis form, we can work
with long-term partners such
as Volgren to assemble the bus
here in Australia.
“It also has allowed us to
create new climate options
for the vehicle, more suited to
Australian conditions” he added.
LONG-TERM PLANNING
While handover of the first
electric buses to the PTA is not
scheduled until late next year,
the planning is well underway,
Volvo confirms. Implementing
electric vehicles involves many
more stakeholders than a
traditional bus sale – with Volvo
saying the planning for this
project started last year.
“This project is about much
more than the buses. We
have worked with the PTA on
a number of areas including
simulating the routes to
create our charging strategy,
charging infrastructure,
understanding capital works
needs in the depot, training
of staff, safety elements,
certification and standards
compliance. That means we are
creating a scalable, end-to-end
implementation plan that can
be replicated in the future,”
explained Mead.
The company points out
that whilst Volvo has extensive
experience in electric buses,
full commercialisation of
the localised electric bus
solution for Australia will
not be until 2022.
AND NOW THE WAIT…
So these are the timeframes
we are looking at and the
machinations that need to
happen before we get to see
the Volvo-Volgren e-buses in
the flesh on home soil and then
in eventual service in Perth, WA,
by early 2022.
Like any good cat on the
hunt, it’s taken its time, slowly
and silently and patiently
slinking up and assessing
and testing and checking the
Australasian market, waiting for
the right time to pounce.
There’ll be more than a few
operators eagerly watching to
see how this PTA delivery pans
out – and so too other European
electric bus manufacturers,
as well. And let’s not forget
the Australian e-bus making
entities and current Asian
manufacturers that are here
now or have emerged.
Yup, interesting electric-bus
times ahead… Stay tuned.
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ABC July 2020 busnews.com.au