Electric buses to be operated in Malmö, Sweden

Malmö has officially committed to switching to electric buses on the main bus routes in the city.

The first route to be electrified by Skånetrafiken, provider of public transport in the Skåne region, is number 7 between Svågertorp and Ön via Malmö Centre, a distance of just under 15km. Volvo has delivered 13 fully electric buses.

“It’s really gratifying that one of Malmö’s main lines has now been fully electrified with our quiet and emission-free electric buses. Electrically-powered bus traffic helps considerably improve the everyday environment of everyone who lives, travels and spends time in our cities, and this is a development to which we naturally want to contribute,” said Martin Spjern, Key Account Director at Volvo Buses Sweden.

The electric buses will be Skånetrafiken’s first with a new interior design to meet the needs of the passengers. Arches and rails along the bus roof make it easy to move through the bus, and there are USB sockets close to each seat and special lighting available at night to help passengers feel comfortable and safe.

The Volvo 7900 Electric buses are far quieter than diesel buses, have no exhaust emissions and consume approximately 80 per cent less energy than corresponding diesel buses. They are powered by green electricity to minimise their environmental and climate impact. The bus batteries are charged at the end stations, a process that takes between two and six minutes.

Volvo has also sold all-electric buses to Gothenburg, and electric hybrids to Värnamo in Sweden. On the company’s overseas markets, Volvo has sold all-electric buses to the United Kingdom, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland.