World premiere for Volvo's hybrid bus in Göteborg

World premiere for Volvo's hybrid bus in Göteborg

When Volvo's new hybrid bus now for the first time begins to carry passengers,
it is happening in Göteborg. The Göteborgs Spårvägar transit company is
participating in a field test with the hybrid bus that provides major fuel
savings as a result of electric drive and shutting off the diesel engine at bus
stops.


Environmental issues are high on the agenda among politicians in Göteborg and
this applies to a great extent within traffic policy. There are distinct
environmental demands the entire way from the politicians in the traffic
committee, through the officials at the city's Traffic Office and those
responsible for procurement at the Västtrafik county public services agency to
the operators, including Göteborgs Spårvägar. 

“A consistent and systematic environmental effort is the core of Västtraffik's
strategy,” says Leif Blomqvist, Västtrafik's Board Chairman. “We must be at the
forefront in offering long-term sustainable travel. Seizing on new technologies
is important for us and with the hybrid bus, exhaust emissions and noise are
reduced.”

Hybrid solutions for heavy vehicles have existed for many years, but they have
been too expensive and reduced emissions too little, as a result of which they
did not achieve market penetration. The Volvo Group's new hybrid technology
changes this. The company has developed a technology that is common for buses,
trucks and construction equipment. In this manner, the Group secures large
component volumes and subsequently lower costs.

Silent at bus stops
Volvo's hybrid bus is equipped with two engines working together, a diesel
engine that due to electric drive could be made smaller than usual, and an
electric motor. The bus can be driven with both engines operating together or
one or the other singly, which is one of the major benefits of the parallel
hybrid technology used by the Volvo Group.

When the bus brakes, the braking energy is recycled and stored in a battery
mounted on the roof of the bus. This energy is then used to drive the electric
motor. When the doors open at the bus stop, the diesel engine is shut off
entirely. The bus then starts solely powered by the electric motor and first
when the bus reaches a speed of 15-20 km/h, the diesel engines starts
automatically.

Volvo's hybrid technology contributes to a quieter and cleaner city environment.
Fuel consumption, and consequently the emission of the greenhouse gas carbon
dioxide, is reduced by up to 30% depending on where the bus is operating in
traffic. The emission of nitrous oxides and particles declines by 40-50%
compared with a conventional diesel bus.

“We reduce energy consumption per passenger by 50-75%, compared with using an
automobile,” says Edward Jobson, Environmental Director at Volvo Buses. “With
such major environmental gains and such large savings in fuel costs, we are
convinced that hybrid buses will become extremely attractive and a
difficult-to-beat alternative for personal transportation within a few years.”

Series production 2010
Volvo expects to start series production of hybrid buses at the beginning of
2010. The company has already received its first orders for the bus, including
customers in Luxemburg and Switzerland. The field tests now starting in Göteborg
are intended for making the final fine adjustments.

It was natural for Göteborgs Spårvägar to participate in the field test.

“Our goal is to be the frontrunner and, accordingly, we strive continuously to
reduce the negative environmental impact of bus traffic,” says Pierre Modini,
Operations Manager at Göteborgs Spårvägar Buss AB. “Naturally, testing new
environmental technology in our buses is important to us.”

In the near future, Volvo Buses will also start field tests with the first of
six hybrid double-decker buses in London.

28 April, 2009

For further information, please contact Per-Martin Johansson, press officer, +46
31 322 52 00, per-martin.johansson@volvo.com

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Volvo Bus Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturer of large buses
and coaches. The range comprises complete vehicles, chassis, bus bodies,
transport system solutions for metropolitan traffic, leasing, financing and
service contract maintenance. Volvo Bus Corporation is part of the Volvo Group,
one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction
equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace
components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions for
financing and service. For more information, please visit
http://www.volvobuses.com/