Volvo BZL

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
MCV single-decker bodied Volvo BZL demonstrator in Kingston upon Hull, July 2023
Overview
ManufacturerVolvo Buses
Production2021–
AssemblyBorås, Sweden
Body and chassis
ClassElectric bus
Doors1, 2 or 3
Floor typeLow floor
Powertrain
Power output200 kW electric motor
Battery282/376/470 kWh lithium iron phosphate[1]
Dimensions
Length
  • Single-decker bus
  • 9–13 metres (30–43 ft)
  • Double-decker bus
  • 10.3–10.9 metres (34–36 ft)
[2]
Width2,500 millimetres (8.2 ft)
Chronology
PredecessorVolvo 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
Stagecoach East MCV double-decker-bodied Volvo BZL DD in Cambridge in July 2023

The first Volvo BZLs for the United Kingdom were delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland, with deliveries for 25 MCV-bodied single-deck BZLs for use in Ayrshire commencing in February 2023.[6] The first double-deck MCV-bodied BZLs would then enter service with Stagecoach East in Cambridge from May 2023, with 30 of the type delivered for use on the Cambridge park and ride and other services in the city.[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] which was followed by an order for 19 single-deck BZLs for Stagecoach London, which are to be delivered from late 2023.[10]

Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, forty-eight MCV-bodied single-deck BZLs were ordered by Metroline, with delivery planned for the second half of 2023,[11] which was followed by an order for a further 28 single-decks for use on routes 316 and 228, which are to be delivered the first quarter of 2024.[12] 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,[13] while Lothian Buses plans to take delivery of 50 double-deck BZLs in two batches for service in Edinburgh in 2024.[14] Demonstrator models have entered service with Stagecoach South in Winchester and East Yorkshire in Kingston upon Hull.[15][16][17]

In 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.[18][19] The first four Volgren-bodied BZLs entered service with Transperth in the suburbs of Perth between February and March 2022,[20] followed by the first of 17 BZLs ordered for Transdev Queensland in February 2023,[21][22] and two BZLs for the Transport for Brisbane for use on the Spring Hill Loop service in May 2023.[23]

In 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 trial with Tower Transit Singapore on 26 March 2023 on route 990,[24] while in Colombia, a Volvo BZL built with Busscar 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 is planned to be also operated on trial in Latin American cities such as Santiago de Chile and the Brazilian cities of Curitiba, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.[25][26]

References
  1. "BZL Electric chassis specifications". Volvo Bus. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  2. Render, Stuart (10 December 2021). "Volvo continues its electric journey". Buses. Stamford: Key Publishing. Retrieved 18 December 2021.(subscription required)
  3. "Volvo BZL Electric bus chassis". Volvo Bus. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  4. "Volvo launches BZL Electric; UK demonstration to start soon". Route One. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  5. "Volvo Buses launches new BZL e-bus platform". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  6. "First Volvo BZL deliveries for Stagecoach West Scotland". routeone. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. "ZEBRA buses for Cambridge imminent". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  8. Halford, Paul (12 May 2023). "New electric buses for Cambridge builds on 'strong partnership' for Stagecoach and Volvo". routeone. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. "Volvo BZL to form Stagecoach Stockport 170 e-bus fleet". routeone. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  10. "London order takes Stagecoach Volvo BZL total to 244". routeone. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  11. "Metroline orders 48 Volvo BZL electric single-deckers". routeone. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  12. Halford, Paul (8 June 2023). "Metroline to add 28 Volvo BZL electric single-deckers". routeone. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  13. Deakin, Tim (2 May 2023). "Volvo BZL intended to form Warrington electric bus fleet". routeone. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  14. Deakin, Tim (20 September 2023). "Lothian Buses orders 50 Volvo BZL double-deckers". routeone. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  15. Peat, Chris (12 July 2023). "MP considers funding after electric Volvo trial". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  16. Peat, Chris (8 August 2023). "Volvo BZL makes for a first in Hull". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  17. Page, Mark (8 August 2023). "Battery-powered electric bus transports Hull-area passengers for the first time". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  18. "Volvo launches new BZL Electric bus chassis". Trucksales. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  19. Cotter, Fabian (15 February 2022). "Milestone 200,000th Volvo bus chassis Oz bound". Australasian Bus & Coach. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  20. "Volvo Volgren BZL electric buses successfully delivering cleaner transport to Perth". Australasian Bus & Coach. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  21. Vorrath, Sophie (13 January 2023). "Queensland adds 17 new electric buses to its fleet, powered by solar depot". TheDriven.io. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  22. "Volvo supports local in new electric bus delivery spree". Australasian Bus & Coach. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  23. "Volvo BZLs are Volgren's 50th e-buses". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  24. 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.
  25. "Volvo Buses launches the BZL, the electric superbus for urban applications". Busworld Latin America. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  26. 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.

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