Volvo B8RLE

The Volvo B8RLE is a 7.7-litre-engined low-entry bus chassis manufactured by Volvo since 2013 for Euro VI markets. It was designed as a replacement for the B7RLE and the B9RLE. The right-hand drive version was launched in November 2014.[2]

Volvo B8RLE
Veolia Transport 8900LE-bodied B8RLE in Breda.
Overview
ManufacturerVolvo
Production2013–present
AssemblyBorås, Sweden
Curitiba, Brazil
Santiago, Chile
Subic, Philippines
[1]
Body and chassis
ClassBus chassis
Doors1 to 3
Floor typeLow entry
Powertrain
EngineVolvo D8K (Euro VI), D8C (Euro III/V)
Capacity50–90 passengers
Power output250-350 bhp
TransmissionZF EcoLife 6AP1200B (280 hp), 6AP1400B (320, 350 hp); Voith DIWA.6 (320 hp), Volvo I-Shift
Dimensions
Length10.2–12.8 metres (4x2)
12.4-14.9 metres (6x2)
17.1m-18.3 metres (articulated)
Chronology
PredecessorVolvo B7RLE
Volvo B9RLE
Volvo B12BLEA (articulated)

Initially available in two- and tri-axle variants, the articulated version of the B8RLE called the B8RLEA is available in Australia since late 2014.[3] In 2017, Euro III and V versions were launched worldwide with engine outputs at 250 and 330 hp.[1] The 250 hp version is marketed in Brazil as the Volvo B250RLE.[4]

It is also available as a medium-floor bus chassis, known as Volvo B8R. Throughout Europe, the B8RLE is most commonly available as the semi-integral Volvo 8900LE. In the United Kingdom, the B8RLE is offered with MCV Evora and Wright Eclipse 3 bodywork, and formerly also with MCV Evolution 2 bodywork. Additionally, Plaxton has also developed a low-entry version called the Plaxton Panther LE coach based on the B8RLE chassis with the 6x2 tri-axles configuration, for the intercity bus-commuter coach market. In Spain the B8R and the B8RLE is only available with the bodywork Unvi Urbis, Castrosua Magnus E, Sunsundegui SB3 and Sunsundegui Astral (this bodywork is discontinued).

In the Philippines, Volvo Buses launched the B8RLE in August 2018. The bus chassis is imported from Borås, Sweden and bodywork is made by Autodelta Coach Builders.

In Indonesia, Indotruck Utama (as a representative of Volvo Buses Indonesia) launched the B8RLE in March 2019 at Busworld Southeast Asia.

Engines

D8K,[5] 7698 cc, in-line 6-cylinder turbodiesel (2013–present)

  • D8K280 - 206 kW (280 bhp), 1050 Nm, Euro VI
  • D8K320 - 235 kW (320 bhp), 1200 Nm, Euro VI
  • D8K350 - 258 kW (350 bhp), 1400 Nm, Euro VI

D8C, 7698 cc, in-line 6 cyl. turbodiesel (2017–present)

  • D8C250 - 186 kW (250 bhp), 950 Nm, Euro III/Euro V[4]
  • D8C330 - 246 kW (330 bhp), 1200 Nm, Euro III/Euro V

Operators

Australia

One example of an Express Coach Builders-bodied B8RLE also exists as a special needs school bus in Perth, Western Australia.

United Kingdom

The first example in the United Kingdom was delivered to Arriva Shires & Essex in 2014.[2] As at January 2021, 88 have been delivered with Lothian Buses the largest purchaser with 45, 15 of which are fitted with Wright 13.2m bodywork for subsidiary company East Coast Buses with the remaining 30 fitted with 12.9m MCV eVoRa bodies.[11] East Yorkshire Motor Services purchased 6 with MCV Evolution bodywork in late 2015–2016. Stagecoach in the Fens have 17 B8RLEs on the Wright Eclipse 3 and MCV eVoRa, and Trentbarton also have some on the Wright Eclipse 3 body, Stagecoach South Wales have recently received an order of 12 eVoRa bodies for their TrawsCymru work.

South Korea

Since 2015, several bus operators in Gyeonggi Province including subsidiaries of KD Transportation Group are purchasing B8RLE double-deckers with its bodywork by Daji Motors Enterprise Co.(大吉汽車 in Taiwan), in order to handle exceeding demands of several express bus lines covering Seoul metropolitan area.[12]

Taiwan

In 2016, Kaohsiung Transportation introduced 2 3-axle open-top double-decker B8RLE bus with its bodywork by Daji Motors Enterprise(Chinese: 大吉汽車) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Then, San Chung Bus in Taipei and Tainan Bus in Tainan also introduced this 3-axle open-top double-decker B8RLE for city sightseeing routes.

In 2019, Shing Nan Bus Company in Tainan introduced 22 2-axle single-deck B8RLE bus with Daji Motors body, as a successor of its Daji-bodied B7RLE single-deck bus, for public bus service Tainan City Bus and THSR Shuttle Bus in urban and suburban Tainan.

Philippines

Since September 2018, Precious Grace Transport (Premium Point-to-Point bus or P2P) are purchasing B8RLE low-entry buses (Autodelta Volvo 8900LE replica) body by Autodelta Coach Builders, Inc. are built in Subic, Zambales, in order to handle exceeding demands of several Premium Point-to-Point bus service covering TriNoma to Bulacan route.

Chile

Since 2020, the company Subus Chile, which is part of the Red Metropolitana de Movilidad, operates with 201 Volvo buses. A large part of the bus lines on which these buses operate are the most extensive in the system.

References
  1. "Press release: Volvo Buses launches the Volvo B8R globally". Volvo Buses. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. Volvo unveils first B8RLE Bus & Coach Buyer 14 November 2014
  3. "Press release: World First: Volvo Bus Australia delivers first Euro 6 Volvo B8RLEA articulated bus". Volvo Buses. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  4. "Volvo B250RLE – Euro 5" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Volvo do Brasil. 18 April 2017.
  5. Volvo D8K Euro6 fact sheet Archived 2014-11-06 at the Wayback Machine Volvo Buses
  6. "enthusiasts guide to Brisbane Transport". www.brisbanetransport.info. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  7. "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - Transdev NSW Fleet List". fleetlists.busaustralia.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  8. "Volvo delivers 1,000th Transperth bus for Perth network". Media Statements. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  9. "Make & Model". www.perthbus.info. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  10. "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - NSW Fleet Lists". fleetlists.busaustralia.com. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  11. Volvo B8RLE Bus Lists on the Web
  12. "The first Volvo Double Decker city bus in South Korea". buslife.de. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 2018-05-12.
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