Volvo Displays Hybrid Bus at Auto Expo

Volvo Buses unveiled what has been the world’s first commercially viable hybrid bus – the Volvo 7700 Hybrid – at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi. The Volvo Hybrid solution is already commercialised and operating across 20 cities of the world with a proven track record of saving up to 37% fuel consumption & over 50% in hazardous emissions in actual customer operations. Present at the launch was Akash Passey, Managing Director & CEO, Volvo Buses in South Asia. The unveiling follows the recent launch of the New Volvo Bus Range including the models on display – Volvo 9400PX coach, Volvo 7400XL multi-axle city bus and Volvo 9100 coach. Volvo commenced the serial production for Europe of the Volvo 7700 Hybrid in May 2010. This bus was developed following several years of research & development of the hybrid technology. Since its launch, the Volvo Hybrid solution has emerged as a commercially viable bus and has been adopted for regular use in countries in the Americas and Europe. 8 out of 10 customers have thus far returned for repeat purchase of these buses. In December 2011, Volvo Buses has secured orders for a total exceeding 450 hybrid buses from Mexico, Brazil and Europe. Akash Passey, Managing Director & CEO, Volvo Buses in South Asia, said, “At Volvo we have what is considered today as the world’s most efficient hybrid solution. Importantly it’s a part of our regular production system, developed by Volvo in-house, and proven in real operations for a long time now. Across various cities, across various routes it has given up to 37% of fuel savings, more uptime than typical diesel vehicle & of course saved over 50% in hazardous emissions. The Volvo Hybrid is very much the solution cities & environmentalists have asked for. We are ready. All we await is the demand & the direction from the authorities, so that we can apply this solution specifically to Indian needs. Today, the Volvo 7700 Hybrid has been unveiled to showcase our intent and readiness for India.” The Volvo Hybrid solution is a complete Volvo in-house design which has meant – no compromise. Moreover there is high commonality of components with the existing range of Volvo buses. The Volvo 7700 Hybrid is equipped with a smaller diesel engine and an electric motor, which can be used independently or jointly. The electric motor is driven by energy from a battery that is charged when the bus brakes. At bus stops, the diesel engine switches off completely, which creates a silent and exhaust-free environment at bus stops. The bus then restarts only with the help of the electric engine. The diesel engine does not start until the bus reaches 15-20 km/hour. Another advantage is that the bus generates significant fuel savings regardless of where it operates. Many of the older hybrid solutions are only efficient in highly congested city traffic, but Volvo’s technology functions equally well when there is a greater distance between bus stops.