Volvo wins hybrid deal in Switzerland
Swiss operator Bernmobil has placed a contract with Volvo Buses for the delivery of hybrid articulated and single-deck buses. The order for 36 self-charging hybrid electric buses is the largest of its kind for Volvo in Switzerland and the Volvo 7900 S-Charge buses will be delivered from January 2022 to June 2022.
The new Volvo S-Charge buses feature a full electric propulsion system, enabling the buses to travel for longer in zero emission mode.
Intelligent zoning will manage the hybrid driving mode of the vehicles, providing operational flexibility of the fleet and eliminating noise and emissions in pre-defined areas.
Markus Anderegg, technical director, Bernmobil, says: “The Volvo 7900 S-Charge meets our operational and technical requirements perfectly.
The high capacity, the total cost of ownership, the excellent service support and the mature zoning and self-charging concept made the difference for us.”
Jean-Pierre Roemer, Volvo Buses Switzerland, adds: “The Volvo 7900 S-Charge is one of our cleanest buses, generating up to 40 per cent lower CO2 emissions than a comparable diesel bus.
“In Bern, the CO2 emissions will be reduced by almost 50 tonnes per year. With the support of Volvo’s geofencing system, ‘Volvo Zone Management’, the vehicle can be programmed to drive in electric mode in low emission zones or in areas where it will be most beneficial to the community, such as bus stops and city centres.”
The Volvo 7900 S-Charge can run on electric energy for distances up to one kilometre and at speeds up to 50 km/h. Volvo claims this provides significant fuel savings as well as reduced noise and CO2 emissions.
The Volvo 7900 S-Charge buses for the order will be manufactured at Volvo Buses’ production facility in Wroclaw, Poland.