First Volvo BZL delivered in Australian order
Volvo has delivered the first of an initial order of 18 Volvo BZL electric buses to Australia.
The order is part of an AUD$250m/£129m joint initiative between the Western Australian state government and Australian federal government, to support the state’s transition to zero-emission public transport.
The complete bus was manufactured in Perth by body build partner Volgren Australia, on a fully imported Volvo BZL Electric chassis. Under the agreement, the Australian federal government has committed AUD$125m/£65m towards building electric bus charging infrastructure in Perth, while the Western Australian government will commit a further AUD$125 million to acquiring electric buses manufactured in the state – all of which will be built on the Volvo Buses electric platform. The latest order for 18 buses is expected to be delivered by mid-2025, when the new vehicles will operate on Perth’s Central Area Transit (CAT) routes.
The delivery of the first full fleet of electric buses comes after a trial of four Volvo BZL Electric buses began in the Joondalup area, in northern Perth, in February 2022. All four vehicles are still in service, operating from the Joondalup bus depot, powered by a high-voltage EV charging system.
“We know the Volvo BZL Electric is an excellent product delivering leading safety, security and long-term reliability along with industry leading Volvo training and product support” – Mitchell Peden, Volvo Bus Australia General Manager
Mitchell Peden, Volvo Bus Australia General Manager, said: “We are beyond proud to be part of this electric bus project in WA, knowing we are contributing to long term sustainable public transport in Perth and its surrounds. We know the Volvo BZL Electric is an excellent product delivering leading safety, security and long-term reliability along with industry leading Volvo training and product support. The transition to zero-emissions public transport is well underway in Western Australia and Volvo is proud to be a leading partner.”