Volvo BZL single-deckers entering service with Metroline

ComfortDelGro-owned London bus operator Metroline is about to add 14 single-deck Volvo BZLs into service.

Type training on the vehicles has been underway over the past few weeks and following tests with one bus in service, four of the electric buses will be operating on Route 251 (between Arnos Grove and Edgware Road) from Tuesday 16 January. Four more are due to follow by the end of that week. By the end of January, all 14 vehicles are expected to be in service, following the completion of works on the garage.

The 14 BZLs are part of a larger order for 48 of the vehicles, the first batch of which were ordered in November 2022.

The single-deckers are powered by 200 kW low-loss electric motors matched with a two-stage automated gearbox designed to help increase wheel torque at low speed and even out current peaks, which in turn reduces energy usage and driveline wear.