Hybrid bus in operation in Göteborg
The first of Volvo's hybrid buses is now in operation and it is very popular among drivers.
“I have always liked driving Volvo’s buses. This feels particularly important now that the company is investing in the environment,” says Jaime Faundres, who has been driving buses for 20 years.
“The only thing you have to do is get used to the total silence at bus stops when the diesel engine is turned off. It’s a fantastic feeling. I sit very proudly in my driver’s seat, knowing that I am helping the environment,” said bus drivers Rikard Säterbom and Jaime Faundres.
“I have been driving buses for 20 years and I prefer Volvo. Its buses give drivers a high level of quality and safety. I think it’s really good for the future that Volvo Buses is investing in a hybrid bus,” he said.
In the hybrid bus, there are two power sources that work together, a diesel engine and an electric motor. The bus can be powered by both of them in unison or separately. This enables the diesel engine to be turned off when the bus pulls up at a bus stop, for example,
thereby saving fuel, reducing emissions and making the city environment far quieter. Read more about our hybrid technology
“All you have to do is listen as we stand here in the noise produced by all the other buses stopping and starting. You can hardly make yourself heard. That’s why it’s so wonderful to start a completely silent hybrid bus,” said Jaime Faundres.
At the beginning of 2010, Volvo Buses will start the series production of hybrid buses. In addition to a field test involving six hybrid double-deckers in London later this year, the first hybrid bus is now operating in Göteborg.
Recently, the president of Volvo Buses, Håkan Karlsson, handed over the keys of the hybrid bus to the customer, Göteborgs Spårvägar (the Göteborg transport company), in front of an audience of journalists and photographers.
“This is a milestone. After many years of hard work, we can now present the result. A quieter bus that reduces fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent,” said Håkan Karlsson, who was clearly very pleased.
The bus was handed over to Göteborgs Spårvägar and its chairperson, Lena Malm, together with the chairwoman of the city executive board, Anneli Hulthén. They both expressed their thanks and explained that this is an investment the City of Göteborg is making in the environment and transport.
“We are going to be the leaders in Sweden when it comes to environmentally sound public transport. This is an excellent start to this commitment,” said Lena Malm.