Volvo’s new Electric Hybrid bus is for the first time placed in
scheduled service. The bus will run on the Innovation Route 109 in
Hamburg, Germany.
Regulatory News:
Volvo (STO:VOLVA) (STO:VOLVB)
The new Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid commenced scheduled operation
in Hamburg on December 18. The starting shot for the innovative bus
system coincided with the opening of the Innovation Route 109. The
route will be used by the public transport company in Hamburg, the
Hamburger Hochbahn AG (HOCHBAHN), to run comparative tests of
innovative drive technologies under the strict everyday conditions
of scheduled services. The city of Hamburg has established the
target: from 2020, only emission-free buses should be acquired by
the city.
Alongside three Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid buses, Volvo’s diesel
hybrid buses in both 18 m articulated and 12 m versions will also
be tested on the route, as well as battery fuel cell buses and fuel
cell buses from other manufacturers.
The event in Hamburg took place in the presence of Olof Persson,
President and CEO of the Volvo Group, Günter Elste, CEO of
HOCHBAHN, Olaf Scholz, First Mayor of Hamburg, Rainer Bomba, State
Secretary at the Federal Transport Ministry and some 120 guests
from the fields of politics, economics and the bus industry.
“We are delighted that our new electric hybrid bus will serve
the Innovation Route 109. For us, the electric hybrid bus represent
the current peak of our successful cooperation with Hamburger
Hochbahn AG”, said Olof Persson. “Together, we have reached our
shared goal, making public transport more efficient,
quieter and more sustainable. We will continue our cooperation
here in Hamburg with sustainable, low-noise vehicles.”
Future drive technologies tested on a single route
The Innovation Route 109 of HOCHBAHN will be almost exclusively
served by buses with innovative drive technologies. Different types
and drive modes for the sustainable buses of the future are to be
tested in parallel and under identical conditions. Conventional
diesel buses will also be used on the route to serve as reference
vehicles in the scientific comparison of the innovative drive
concepts.
The Innovation Route 109 runs from the new Electric Bus Terminal
near Hamburg Central Station to the final stop at the underground
station in Alsterdorf. With a length of about ten kilometers, it’s
highly suitable for the Volvo Electric hybrid buses, with their
groundbreaking plug-in technology that permits full electric
operation over at least seven kilometers. Charging takes place at
the two bus terminals.
With the newest vehicles, the HOCHBAHN is expanding its rolling
development lab for modern drive technology to a total of about 65
vehicles.
Key findings through direct comparison and cooperation
Olaf Scholz, First Mayor of the City of Hamburg, is convinced
that the Innovation Route will offer important findings to
accelerate the development of more sustainable and resource-saving
buses: “The goal of only acquiring emission-free buses from 2020 is
thus feasible.”
The CEO of HOCHBAHN, Günter Elste, was especially pleased about
the cooperation between the industry and HOCHBAHN in this project:
“In this way, we demonstrate what we want to and can achieve with
electric drives – a higher quality of life in the city.”
Martin Schmitz, Technology Manager of the VDV (Verband Deutscher
Verkehrsunternehmen e.V), Association of German Transport
Companies, also regards the future opportunities for sustainable
drive concepts as positive:
“The use of electric buses in the German public transport system
is constantly developing; nationwide, there are now about 20
projects and further will be added in the months to come.“
The Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid
With its world-first electric hybrid bus incorporating Euro 6
equipment, electric motor and plug-in technology, Volvo is further
developing its electro mobile pioneering role. Charging takes place
at the end stop using a pantograph that is integrated with the
charging station. When the bus has reached its parking position
under the charging mast, the pantograph is lowered to both of the
charging bars on the roof of the bus when the driver presses a
button. The complete charging process takes only six minutes.
The lithium ion iron phosphate charger provides the electric
motor (150 kW) with power. The bus travels at least seven
kilometers purely on electricity, before the Euro 6 diesel
aggregate switches on. On the stretches driven only on electricity,
the bus is completely emission-free and extremely low-noise: Near
to a Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid, the noise level can be compared to
normal conversation level.
The Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid also offers a high level of
flexibility of use: In selected areas, it can be driven on
electricity alone, while it can be deployed as a hybrid bus on all
scheduled routes. The technology used in the electric hybrid bus is
that of the successful Volvo 7900 diesel hybrid bus, which ensures
a high level of availability.
Volvo Bus Corporation is taking another step forward in the
direction of electrification with its Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid.
There is a major interest in the new Electric Hybrid buses from
numerous cities, both in Europe and in other parts of the world.
Serial production is scheduled to commence early 2016.
Facts Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid
· The bus is equipped with an electric motor that is powered by
lithium batteries. It also has a small diesel engine
· The bus is charged quickly at charging stations via an
overhead power connection. Recharging takes appr.6 minutes at end
stations.
· The bus can be driven at least seven kilometres on electricity
alone, covering the distance silently and entirely without exhaust
emissions
· Enables indoor bus stops
· 75% fuel saving1
· 60% energy reduction1
· 75% CO2 reduction1
· Length: 12 m
· Height: 3280 mm
· Width: 2550 mm
· Passenger capacity: 95
· No. of seats, max: 32+1 (folded)
· Electrical motor: Volvo I-SAM, output: 150 kW, torque, max
(Nm) 1200
· Gearbox: Volvo I-Shift
· Lithium-ion battery: voltage 600 V, capacity, total: 19
kWh
1) Estimated value on a city bus route of 10 kilometres,
compared to a diesel bus Euro 6.
Watch the video with Volvo’s first Electric Hybrid in commercial
service in Hamburg, Germany:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FseBmNiqrd0
2014-12-19
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Volvo Bus CorporationHelena LindManager Media RelationsPhone:
+46 (0)31-323 62 57