Volvo Buses has launched its next generation all-electric bus, the Volvo 7900 Electric, claiming it delivers an extended range, thanks to more battery options, and adds a main grid CCC charging option, for greater operational flexibility.
The battery capacity, in particular, has been significantly extended, with the Volvo 7900 Electric being made available with a choice of 150 kWh, 200 kWh and 250kWh units – allowing the bus to run for longer between charges.
“This is a very important reinforcement of our electromobility product range, giving our customers maximum flexibility in their daily operations,” said Håkan Agnevall, president of Volvo Buses.
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“During peak hours the buses can operate continuously without stopping to recharge. Instead, the batteries can be charged once traffic is at off-peak levels. On shorter routes, they can even run throughout the day and be charged at night.”
Volvo Buses has also expanded the range of charging options on the 7900 Electric, which can now either be fast-charged at the route’s end stops, via the open OppCharge interface, as before, or be charged directly from the main grid via a standard CCS cable.
“Operators can choose the charge interface that best suits each particular occasion. For instance, CCS is suitable for high-power charging when the bus is parked in the depot,” noted Johnny Lidman, product manager for city buses at Volvo Buses.
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Volvo Buses is selling its electric vehicles in the form of a complete solution, with Volvo taking care of all maintenance of both vehicles and batteries at a fixed monthly cost. The first models of Volvo’s new generation of electric buses are expected to become operational at the end of 2018.
Agneval added: “As the demand for electric buses has grown very rapidly both in Europe and the rest of the world, it feels really good that we can offer cities an electric-bus system that provides better preconditions than ever to switch to sustainable, quiet and emission-free public transport.”
The Volvo 7900 Electric breakdown
- Two-axle 12-metre city bus with low floor and three doors
- 80% lower energy consumption than corresponding diesel buses
- 150kWh, 200kWh or 250 kWh battery capacities
- OppCharge or CCS charging (250 kWh charge only via CCS)
- Operating range up to 200km depending on topography and driving conditions
- Volvo Dynamic Steering (VDS) and pedestrian and cyclist detection warning options
