Volvo BZL

[Zidanehartono]

This photo thread will be dedicated to the Volvo BZL electric bus model in Perth, which will be operating on the Joondalup CAT and bus services in the northern suburbs under a trial for electric buses once it has been put into service in a few months time.

The first Volvo BZL electric bus model was seen at Abernethy Road, Kewdale after it lefted Trucks Centre Kewdale a day before the launch event organized by the PTA WA. Note that the offside external camera hasn't been fitted at this stage.

[Merc1107]

Thanks for sharing!

I do wonder how that (seemingly) decorative piece on the front of the bus will fare in service.

It also looks to have lower profile tyres. Can you confirm if it appears to sit lower than the present diesel Volvos? If so, another nice little improvement for passengers over the present deliveries, which, in my opinion, sit a bit too high off the ground.

[Bus Suggestions]

It also looks to have lower profile tyres. Can you confirm if it appears to sit lower than the present diesel Volvos? If so, another nice little improvement for passengers over the present deliveries, which, in my opinion, sit a bit too high off the ground.

It does look like it sits lower. It may be to do with height clearance, as the overhead equipment is taller than the Optimus air intake.

[Zidanehartono]

Photos of BZL #1 at a launch event that the PTA organized and held at Trucks Centre Forrestfield on 21/10/2021, photo courtesy of WAMN News.

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[Bus Suggestions]

It is disappointing that the underfloor equipment doesn't allow for a full low floor, nor a third door beyond the rear axle, but the BZL is still a very welcome electric sight! Even without the full low floor, there is only two small steps up, miles of extra headroom compared to the B8RLE (despite being not very tall, I still find I have to crouch to fit at the back of a B8)! Wish I could see a view from the rear, as there's a few things I note:

• Rear-facing seats on the rear wheel arch, an improvement for family travel and crush capacity loads, less so in casual travel.
• I assume that accounts for the wall-mounted hand grab pole as well, the ceiling-mounted rope hand grabs may be a tad too tall now.
• Second photo, I note an awkward window design, having two windows and a pole separating them in what looks like the nearside wheelchair bay? It does happily provide another two USB ports, but is there any particular reason for it? Roof load bearing perhaps?

[tonyp]

It is disappointing that the underfloor equipment doesn't allow for a full low floor, nor a third door beyond the rear axle, but the BZL is still a very welcome electric sight! Even without the full low floor, there is only two small steps up, miles of extra headroom compared to the B8RLE (despite being not very tall, I still find I have to crouch to fit at the back of a B8)! Wish I could see a view from the rear, as there's a few things I note:

• Rear-facing seats on the rear wheel arch, an improvement for family travel and crush capacity loads, less so in casual travel.
• I assume that accounts for the wall-mounted hand grab pole as well, the ceiling-mounted rope hand grabs may be a tad too tall now.
• Second photo, I note an awkward window design, having two windows and a pole separating them in what looks like the nearside wheelchair bay? It does happily provide another two USB ports, but is there any particular reason for it? Roof load bearing perhaps?

The low floor seems to be similar to the Volvo B5LH hybrids operating in Victoria, in which the low floor stops one row short of the rear row.

Certainly the RHD chassis/drivetrain setup does not allow for a door behind the rear axle. I find the lack of a rear window disappointing as this is a passenger-friendly feature that can readily return in an electric bus, most models of which do have them.

Overall, I don't think Volvo has done as well as the Custom Denning Element which ticks more boxes. It will be interesting to see the Dutch Ebusco 2.0 when it arrives here. All of these stack up better than the Chinese offerings.

[Zidanehartono]

There was also a photo of the drivers cab from the same source but I'm not going to put them here as it does not properly show the dashboard. That being said, the layout is infact the same as the B8's perhaps with some minor differences.

[Transperthpaperbus]

Would like to see some photos of these when they eventually enter service

[Zidanehartono]

The second unit, that was at the launch event at VGA in Queensland, is now in Perth sitting at Trucks Centre Kewdale and on charge.

(EDIT: Promotional decals have since been removed awaiting to receive its CAT livery.)

[Enviro 500]

The second unit, that was at the launch event at VGA in Queensland, is now in Perth sitting at Trucks Centre Kewdale and on charge.

I suppose that one will be registered as 4001?

[Zidanehartono]

Another 2x Volvo BZL's, this time in the Transperth corporate livery, seen at Trucks Centre WA Kewdale.

17/6/2022

[Zidanehartono]

4003 which was undergoing testing on 26/8/2022, seen entering Trucks Centre WA Kewdale.

[Bus Suggestions]

I thought I might add my own images here - on Wednesday I had the privilege to see 4003 not once, but twice! I managed first to ride it on a 450 out of Warwick - a friend went to Warwick about an hour later and saw 4003 arrive back at Warwick, then proceed to depart on a dead run, we assumed back to Joondalup.


Front interior of 4003. Notice the lower stop button, and the different style of rooftop emergency exit hatch.


Rear of 4003 as it leaves to continue its journey on to Landsdale.

However, another friend at Perth Busport spotted 4003 and notified us that it was about to depart on a 389 - a local route of mine! Naturally of course, I went out to Wanneroo Rd to wait for its passing...


...and was not disappointed! Here, 4003 crosses Swan St.


A closer view of 4003. The designer in me wants to shrink the size of the text just a little bit...

Overall thoughts? Well, it was definitely quiet, but the 2-speed AMT gave it a distinct whine once moving. Ride quality was decent, when the road is decent the ride was smooth, but any bumps in the road were definitely felt. The bus also seemed a little 'heavy' - needed quite a bit of a push to get going, which I wasn't expecting. Probably not helped by the driver constantly tap dancing on the accelerator and barely doing 60 on Beach Rd - a 70 zone...

[Merc1107]

I'd be curious to hear if the door/stop brake behaviour is still 'wrong' (i.e. the brake releases, then the accelerator interlock releases, often causing the bus to roll backwards before it thumps into gear and struggles away).

Can sympathise with the frustration of drivers who tap-dance on pedals. There's simply no need for it (and on conventional buses causes a lot of undue roughness as the gearbox gets confused). If it's sufficiently annoying, a bit of feedback lodged to Transperth wouldn't hurt.

One would hope the decorative pieces hiding the electrickery on the roof are strong, too - the A/C and CNG cylinder covers seem to get assaulted often enough as it is.

[Enviro 500]

Singapore is also interested in the BZL.

https://landtransportguru.net/volvo-bzl ... ent-152658

[Enviro 500]

https://youtu.be/fWP_WRUJAYw

Swan Transit's sister company Tower Transit Singapore will be testing a BZL too, albeit a 3-door variant.

[tonyp]

Singapore is also interested in the BZL.

https://landtransportguru.net/volvo-bzl ... ent-152658

I missed this post until now. Wow, so Volvo can do a three-door RHD bus too. Transperth should look at this for the CATs. The only thing I don't like is the narrow trench aisle at the back. Most Euro manufacturers can do much better than this.

[Merc1107]

Transperth should look at this for the CATs.

I almost cannot believe I am saying this (it seems so soon), but the majority of CATs have just 3yrs left in that role before needing replacement. Fingers crossed (more for a better designed bus, although the electric bit is icing on the cake).

[Enviro 500]

Transperth should look at this for the CATs.

I almost cannot believe I am saying this (it seems so soon), but the majority of CATs have just 3yrs left in that role before needing replacement. Fingers crossed (more for a better designed bus, although the electric bit is icing on the cake).

I can't quite put my finger around the idea of a 3-door midi. Maybe in future all CAT buses will be standard length.

2139-45 should be reaching the end of their 10-year tenure as per PCC guidelines by the end of the year. 2777-82 have at least 8 years left to serve. The B8 demo unit 2610 would have around 3 years left in that role before it has to be redeployed.