Volvo Buses has received an order for 128 hybrid buses to operate in Brussels.
The order was placed by STIB-MIVB, which provides public transport in the Belgian capital.
In addition to the buses, the order encompasses options for servicing and maintenance for the traction chain and batteries.
The purchase of 128 Volvo 7900 Hybrid buses is the latest in a contract awarded to Volvo Buses by STIB-MIVB in 2018.
Since then, Volvo has delivered 110 hybrid buses for the Brussels public transport network. The new batch of 128 buses will be delivered in 2021.
According to STIB-MIVB, the aim is to gradually convert the city’s entire vehicle fleet to electric propulsion.
“The bus network in Brussels is developing rapidly along two complementary axes: energy transition at one hand and a major redesign of our routes as to further increase the public transport offer by almost 30% in a few months of time,” said Renaud de Saint Moulin, senior vice president, transport systems at STIB-MIVB.
“The Volvo hybrid fleet is a major building block that enables STIB to leverage in this double challenge. Volvo developed in the ’80s and ’90s an excellent track record in Brussels with its B59 series, which enabled a major evolution in the service we offer to our passengers.
“We are happy to further develop our quality of service and reduce significantly our environmental footprint through the new Volvo 7900 Hybrid series.”
The Volvo 7900 Hybrid is propelled entirely by electricity, quietly and emission-free from standstill up to 20km/h (12.5mph). At higher speeds a small diesel engine is automatically activated.
The bus’s batteries are charged via the energy recovered during braking, so no charging infrastructure is required.
Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reportedly 25–40% lower than for a corresponding diesel bus while particle and nitrogen oxide emissions are said to be 50% lower.
Read more from CiTTi
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/malmo-orders-60-electric-buses-from-volvo/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/volvo-bus-batteries-powering-residential-complex/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/electric-bus-fleet-launched-at-birmingham-airport/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/volvo-buses-demonstrates-electric-autonomous-solution-for-depot/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/volvo-receives-europes-largest-order-for-electric-buses/
