Volvo’s first Electric Hybrid bus using plug-in technology has begun the commercial service in Hamburg of Germany.
Silent, cleaner and with significantly lower fuel consumption, the buses represent a new generation of public transportation.
The bus travels an average of 7 km on electricity, opening up new ideas in city planning like indoor bus stops.
The vehicle takes only 6 minutes to get the battery fully charged at the charging facilities provided on end stations.
The bus saves approximately 60 percent of energy and lowers emissions by up to 80 percent.
Volvo has enhanced the safety measures of the vehicle by introducing an auto brake technology for the coach range.
The Forward Collision Warning and Emergency Braking functionality is able to brake also towards standstill objects in curves three years before the legal requirement comes in 2018.
These buses will be tested and evaluated on the new Innovation Route 109 in Hamburg.
The city of Hamburg has established a target that from 2020 onwards, only emission-free buses should be acquired by the city.
Volvo announced the launching of EV buses at the International IAA Commercial Vehicles show held in Frankfurt, Germany in August.
In addition to Hamburg, European cities like Luxembourg and Stockholm have also signed contracts for the 7900 Electric Hybrid buses which will be delivered by 2015-16. Mass dispatch is expected only by early 2016.
Three Volvo Electric Hybrids have run in a field test in Gothenburg the past year, verifying the reduction in energy consumption and emissions.
Sabeena Wahid
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