The FINANCIAL -- Volvo has now sold a total of 100 buses powered by hybrid technology in the Nordic countries. According to Volvo, the latest order to be received by Volvo Buses is for 25 hybrid buses for Göteborgs Spårvägar, which operates public transport services on behalf of Västtrafik.

Delivering up to 37 percent lower fuel consumption and with a much lower environmental impact than conventional diesels, Volvo hybrid buses have achieved significant market success around the world. Now, the company’s home town of Gothenburg has ordered 25 hybrid buses which are scheduled to enter service later this year.

More and more transport authorities and operators are now discovering the benefits of hybrid technology, with Nobina, Nettbuss and, most recently, Göteborgs Spårvägar, as the biggest customers in the Nordic countries.
The 25 Volvo 7700 hybrid buses are powered by a small diesel engine and an electric motor. Fuel consumption is radically reduced by the use of regenerative braking to recover the energy generated when the vehicle’s brakes are applied.

The diesel engine is shut off at bus stops, enabling the bus to operate silently and emission-free on electricity. However, emissions from diesel operation are also low since the bus is fuelled by biodiesel. According to Volvo Buses, hybrid buses running on biodiesel have a distinctly lower environmental impact than other, comparable alternatives.

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