Electric hybrid bus to be trialled in France

RTM in Marseille is partnering with both Volvo and ABB to undertake this trial along Route 82, with the aim to evaluate the bus’ performance in real time as well as the opportunity fast-charging concept.

The Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid runs emission-free on electricity for about 8km and charging the batteries at the fast charging station (installed in cooperation with ABB) takes 3 to 6 minutes using the system based on the open interface OppCharge.

 Based on the parallel hybrid drivetrain of the Volvo 7900 Hybrid (more than 3000 units running in Europe, more than 1 hybrid out of 2 to date) the vehicle:

• Can be charged in 3 to 6 minutes at the end of the line thanks to a pantograph
• Keep the flexibility to run in hybrid mode as it is equipped with the Volvo D5 engine.

Compared with a corresponding conventional diesel-powered bus, the Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid consumes 60 per cent less energy. With the use of the renewable HVO fuel (hydrogenated vegetable oil), carbon dioxide emissions are drastically reduced.

OppCharge is a fast charging system with a pole-mounted pantograph based on an open interface, which guarantees interoperability between the charging station and electric buses and follows the industry organisation ACEA’s recommendations for fast-charging.