Volvo BZL makes for a first in Hull
The first ever trial of a battery-electric bus in Hull has been made.
Go-Ahead-owned East Yorkshire, which operates a predominantly Volvo fleet, has put a Volvo BZL electric single-decker through a three-week trial. The operator tested the vehicle on the 66 service between Hull and Hessle, clocking up more than 172 kilometres a day.
“This bus was the first to hit service, and for me it was quite a big thing” – Andy Benstead, Head of Engineering at East Yorkshire Buses
Andy Benstead, Head of Engineering at East Yorkshire Buses, said: “Hull’s not really in touch with the electric commercial vehicle trend yet. This bus was the first to hit service, and for me it was quite a big thing, experiencing and understanding this new technology and what it can do.
“Considering how complex the system is, the simplicity of it is fantastic. It’s very easy to operate and delivers an exceptionally smooth and quiet ride, the regenerative braking is especially clever.”
“We’ve had really positive feedback from our drivers and it’s created a buzz in Hull – with passengers asking drivers whether it was going to be the same bus that would be turning up every day!
“We already have a very close working relationship with Volvo, so the great support we’ve received during the trial was no surprise. We would really like to see this technology in our area in the future.”
The Volvo BZL Electric trialled by East Yorkshire Buses featured a five-battery configuration, which was recharged using a portable charger at the local bus depot overnight.
“I’m aware that other cities have electric public transport options, but I had never actually been on an electric bus until the Volvo BZL Electric” – Kerry Ryan, Strategic Transport Manager at Hull City Council
Kerry Ryan, Strategic Transport Manager at Hull City Council, said: “I’m aware that other cities have electric public transport options, but I had never actually been on an electric bus until the Volvo BZL Electric. The difference is astonishing, not only the sound but also the smoothness of the ride.
“We all came away very impressed, and it’s a good experience for us if an opportunity was to present itself in the future, particularly when it comes to discussing how we could support our commercial operators with infrastructure.”