| Volvo BZL | |
| Manufacturer: | Volvo Buses |
| Assembly: | Borås, Sweden |
| Production: | 2021–present |
| Predecessor: | Volvo B5LH Volvo B8RLE |
| Length: | [1] |
| Width: | 2500mm |
| Floortype: | Low floor |
| Doors: | 1, 2 or 3 |
| Battery: | 282/376/470 kWh 600 V lithium iron phosphate (NCA in Australia)[2] |
| Powerout: | 400 kW, 31 kNm |
| Transmission: | Volvo I-Shift 2-speed AMT |
| Related: | Volvo BZR |
| Class: | Electric bus |
| Charging: | 300 kW (OppCharge roof charging) 150 kW CCS |
The Volvo BZL is a full-size zero-emission battery electric bus chassis for both single-decker buses and double-decker buses, manufactured by Volvo since 2021.[3]
First launched in 2021 for the United Kingdom and Ireland markets, featuring both double-decker and single-decker bodies built by MCV Bus & Coach, the BZL chassis range features heat pump-powered heating and ventilation, and is claimed to be 90% recyclable. It is also built to a high safety standard with multiple new safety innovations such as sealed battery compartments and a strengthened front frame.[4] [5]
The first 25 Volvo BZLs for the United Kingdom began to be delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland for use in Ayrshire in February 2023.[6] The first MCV double-deck bodied BZLs followed in May 2023, with 30 entering service with Stagecoach East in Cambridge for use on the city's park and ride system.[7] [8] Stagecoach Manchester's Stockport depot is to take delivery 150 double-deck and 20 single-deck BZLs in summer 2024, the largest zero-emissions bus order by the Stagecoach Group to date.[9]
In London, Metroline was the first Transport for London operator to order Volvo BZLs, ordering 48 MCV-bodied single-deck BZLs in November 2022,[10] the first 14 of which entered service on route 251 from January 2024.[11] Metroline are also scheduled to take delivery of a further 28 BZL single-decks for use on routes 228 and 316 during the first quarter of 2024.[12] Stagecoach London followed with an order for 19 single-deck BZLs, which entered service on route 276,[13] following with a further order of 16 single-decks for route 314 and 45 double decks for routes 58, 277 and D7. Arriva London announced in July 2024 that it plans to take delivery of 51 double-deck BZLs for use on routes 243 and 341 from early 2025.[14]
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Warrington's Own Buses plans to take delivery of 105 single and double-deck BZLs to replace the operator's entire diesel bus fleet, with deliveries planned to commence in early 2024,[15] while Lothian Buses plans to take delivery of 50 double-deck BZLs in two batches for service in Edinburgh in 2024.[16] Demonstrator models have entered also service with Stagecoach South in Winchester,[17] East Yorkshire in Kingston upon Hull,[18] [19] and First South Yorkshire in Sheffield.[20]
As of January 2024, 47 Volvo BZLs with Volgren Optimus single-decker bodies were in service across Australia.[21] The BZL for the Australia and New Zealand market, bodied exclusively by Volgren, was unveiled in October 2021 at Volvo's Australian headquarters in Brisbane,[22] [23] with the first four production BZLs entering service with Transperth in the suburbs of Perth between February and March 2022.[24] In December 2022, CDC Melbourne begin taking delivery BZLs, with a total of eight BZLs to be delivered by 2024.[25] Latrobe Valley Bus Lines and Seymour Bus Lines also took delivery of one and three BZLs respectively.[26]
The first of 17 BZLs in Queensland began to be delivered to Transdev Queensland in February 2023,[27] [28] [29] then two BZLs were delivered to Transport for Brisbane for use on the Spring Hill Loop service in May 2023,[30] and Keolis Downer took delivery of 16 Volgren-bodied BZLs for its new North Lakes depot in late 2023, making it the first bus depot operated entirely by electric buses in Queensland when it formally opened.[31] [32]
In Singapore, a Volvo BZL with a three-door SC Neustar City body, unveiled in November 2022 and developed in joint partnership between Volvo and local bus and coach bodywork manufacturer SC Auto, entered service on a one-year trial with Tower Transit Singapore from 26 March 2023.[33]
In Colombia, a Volvo BZL built with Marcopolo bodywork was unveiled at a tech expo in the capital Bogotá in June 2023 for use on the city's TransMilenio bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the first bus from a European manufacturer to be delivered to the country; this BZL began trial operations in Curitiba in Brazil, with further trials in the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile to follow.[34] [35] [36] Volvo later launched the step entrance and low entry BZR bus and coach chassis range in March 2024, featuring variants tailored closer to the Latin American bus market that use similar battery electric technology to both the BZL and its electric Volvo FH trucks.[37]