https://magyarbusz.info/2020/07/22/bele ... a-a-volvo/
Volvo enters the Australian electric bus market
Author: Patthy GellértDate:
July 22, 2020
Volvo's purely electric buses are already collecting kilometers in many European countries, but until now, the Swedish manufacturer's locally zero-emission models have not reached the land of kangaroos. However, the situation will change next year, when the brand new electric bus for the Australian market, produced in cooperation with Volgren, will be completed. The first four copies of the model will be commissioned by Transperth, a public transport company in the city of Perth that is part of the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA).
The four electric buses will arrive in the Western Australian city as part of the 900-strong tender we have previously sung on an international scale, as the transport contract signed with PTA last March allows some of the buses to be powered by various alternative modes of operation in addition to the normal diesel engine. arrive as soon as they become available in Volvo’s local range. The project, the preparation of which began last year, goes far beyond simply delivering vehicles: Volvo and PTA are involved in developing optimal routes for electric buses and choosing a charging strategy, building the necessary infrastructure and a garage to accommodate vehicles, and also in the training of operating and maintenance personnel. The close relationship between the bus manufacturer and the city is well indicated by the fact that, as the handovers progress, Perth's fleet will consist of buses based exclusively on Volvo machinery within a few years.
The body of Volvo electric buses to be manufactured for the Australian market will be manufactured at Volgren's Malaga plant
As we have become accustomed to in many cases outside Europe, Volvo will once again appear “only” as a chassis carrier in the production process, with the bodywork of the buses being carried out by Sweden’s well-proven Australian partner, Volgren, which has previously built an electric bus on BYD chassis. Volvo had previously promised to introduce a modular self-propelled electric bus chassis for external bodies for the UK market by 2021, so it is probably no coincidence that this is also the case for the electric model, which also targets Australia on the left. On the Swedish foundations, the Volgren Optimus superstructure, which is made of bolted aluminum profiles, is 11.7 meters long, but only 2500 mm wide is adapted to local regulations. (This size limit is also likely to change in the foreseeable future, as it is planned to increase the permissible width of heavy goods vehicles in Australia to 2550 mm, possibly 2600 mm, in force in Europe.)
Relatively little is known about the technical details so far. According to Volvo, the future Australia-specific electric bus will include an electric powertrain already proven in Europe, adapted to local climatic conditions, so the novelty is expected to be a close relative of the 7900 Electric we know from a technical point of view. Based on all this, a 160-200 kW high-performance central electric motor and the associated two-speed automatic transmission can be expected, and according to Australian sources, a full-length low-floor design and the use of a CCS Combo 2 plug-in charger are expected.
In Europe, for the time being, we only know Volvo electric models in the form of a complete bus
Despite the fact that, in addition to the technical foundations, the bodywork is broadly in line, the introduction of the Australian-tailored Volvo electric bus has yet to be seen: the official premiere of the novelty is scheduled for the UITP Congress in Melbourne in June 2021. The very first specimens are expected to be available in downtown Perth at the end of 2021, and the model will be available to other potential buyers from 2022 onwards.