VOLVO’S FIRST ELECTRIC BUSES IN AUSTRALIA DUE MID-2021

[Merc1107]

As far as I'm aware, they should be running on Joondalup CATs. Try in the morning or during the day, next time?

Over east, a number of Custom-Denning electrics are presently off the road with batteries being alleged as the issue (see NSW Bus Observations 2022 Thread). If the Volvos use the same make/model of battery, it could be why they're not out.

[Enviro 500]

Does anyone know when the electric busses usually run? I had no luck in Joondalup this afternoon - the CATs were running as diesels.

Surely not 2880 as it has apparently been stripped of all CAT logos.

[Merc1107]

While the preference may be to utilise buses with the appropriate livery or decals, if need be, any bus is better than nothing.

It has not been uncommon to see "normal" buses on the Freo CATs over the years, or even the 555s in Rockingham. In fact, if memory serves correct, Perth CATs have even hosted extra buses not in livery in the past.

It is also possible the electrics might be making a tour of other depots as a show and tell, as 2960 did when first delivered (why, I don't know - the B8s are largely the same buses, with the same irritating quirks as the B7 predecessor). Or even back at Volvo/Volgren for some sort of servicing/repairs.

[Enviro 500]

Buses from Palmyra would help with Perth CAT runs during peak hours in the past. However, I haven't seen them since 2777-82 were shifted over to Claisebrook.

That said, I'm curious as to which buses were spotted on Joondalup CAT while the BZLs were out of action.

[bullswool]

Unfortunately I wasn't paying close enough attention to note the bus numbers (2880 *could* have been one of them). I'll make sure I pay closer attention for you guys next time

[tonyp]

I can see that I'll be struck by Murphy's law of bus chasing. When I finally get over to Perth and head up to Joondalup to try a ride on a BZL I'll find that they're not running! Do you have a bus tracking app over there like we do in NSW?

[Merc1107]

The Transperth app will show you where a scheduled service is on its journey, and its ETA at the selected stop. That is all it will show you. No fleet numbers, no actual account of how late the service is, no maps showing the position of every bus in the fleet. I don't believe there are any third-party apps getting this data, but I may be wrong.

[TP1462]

The Transperth app will show you where a scheduled service is on its journey, and its ETA at the selected stop. That is all it will show you. No fleet numbers, no actual account of how late the service is, no maps showing the position of every bus in the fleet. I don't believe there are any third-party apps getting this data, but I may be wrong.

Unfortunately no I use a number of third party apps and they can only use the information provided by TP for live tracking which is pretty basic the general public doesn’t need to know fleet numbers or railcar numbers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lt. Commander Data]

The Transperth app will show you where a scheduled service is on its journey, and its ETA at the selected stop. That is all it will show you. No fleet numbers, no actual account of how late the service is, no maps showing the position of every bus in the fleet. I don't believe there are any third-party apps getting this data, but I may be wrong.

Unfortunately no I use a number of third party apps and they can only use the information provided by TP for live tracking which is pretty basic the general public doesn’t need to know fleet numbers or railcar numbers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe so, but this data is available for many other capital cities around the country as has been implied. Could be useful if someone calls in lost property or similar though.

[Zidanehartono]

Does anyone know when the electric busses usually run? I had no luck in Joondalup this afternoon - the CATs were running as diesels.

4001 was seen at Trucks Centre Kewdale this afternoon, which might explain its absence.

[tonyp]

Singapore is really taking off with its three-door RHD electric buses. Now Volvo has done a radical rearrangement of its BZL chassis to enable a three-door version for Singapore. Transperth should consider this for the CATs. Third door is only a wider single leaf and aisle is a bit too narrow, but it's a start. Note the more efficient plug doors.

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

[Enviro 500]

Singapore is really taking off with its three-door RHD electric buses. Now Volvo has done a radical rearrangement of its BZL chassis to enable a three-door version for Singapore. Transperth should consider this for the CATs. Third door is only a wider single leaf and aisle is a bit too narrow, but it's a start. Note the more efficient plug doors.

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

It has apparently been registered as SG4007T and spotted on test runs.

Singapore has also been in the midst of procuring Scania Citywide LFs albeit in normal 2-door version like the TP BZLs.

An Ankai demonstrator with 3 doors was also seen in Singapore lately.

[tonyp]

There is a Scania chassis already in Australia, but two-door only.

[MotorOmnibus8562]

There is a Scania chassis already in Australia, but two-door only.

So is the Scania Citywide Chassis is available in the Australian Market now? I've seen the brochures of the Citywide chassis on the Scania Australia website but I wonder when the body manufacturers will start building vehicles on the Citywide chassis? I'm certain Volgren will go for it soon. And perhaps Bustech and Custom Denning for their endeavour bodies? Volgren currently have three chassis options available (BYD D9RA, Volvo BZL and likely the King Long Chassis)

Kind regards, MO8562

[tonyp]

So is the Scania Citywide Chassis is available in the Australian Market now? I've seen the brochures of the Citywide chassis on the Scania Australia website but I wonder when the body manufacturers will start building vehicles on the Citywide chassis? I'm certain Volgren will go for it soon. And perhaps Bustech and Custom Denning for their endeavour bodies? Volgren currently have three chassis options available (BYD D9RA, Volvo BZL and likely the King Long Chassis)

Kind regards, MO8562

It was displayed at the Sydney Bus Expo. The Scania rep told me they were planning to get a Volgren body on the demonstrator. It's based on the Scania N series chassis. The only issue I see is that they've retained the old cooling tower on the nearside rear corner but dedicated to an electronics cabinet. Like the N series, it costs two seats off the rear row.

[Enviro 500]

So is the Scania Citywide Chassis is available in the Australian Market now? I've seen the brochures of the Citywide chassis on the Scania Australia website but I wonder when the body manufacturers will start building vehicles on the Citywide chassis? I'm certain Volgren will go for it soon. And perhaps Bustech and Custom Denning for their endeavour bodies? Volgren currently have three chassis options available (BYD D9RA, Volvo BZL and likely the King Long Chassis)

Kind regards, MO8562

It was displayed at the Sydney Bus Expo. The Scania rep told me they were planning to get a Volgren body on the demonstrator. It's based on the Scania N series chassis. The only issue I see is that they've retained the old cooling tower on the nearside rear corner but dedicated to an electronics cabinet. Like the N series, it costs two seats off the rear row.

N Series? That would be a descendant of the N113CRB that is my favourite vehicle of all time.