Volvo signs Siemens deal

Volvo Buses and Siemens have signed a global agreement regarding the supply of complete electrified bus systems to cities. Under the agreement, which is not an exclusive one for either party, the Swedish manufacturer will supply electric-hybrid buses and full-electric buses to customers, whilst Siemens will provide and install high power charging stations for the electric vehicles. The two companies have been working together since 2012 within the field of electromobility. One objective is to develop a standard for charging infrastructure in order to facilitate for cities to transfer to electrified bus systems.

Volvo Buses and Siemens have already delivered a complete city mobility solution consisting of three Volvo electric hybrid buses and four charging stations to the city of Hamburg, where the buses operate on the city’s new Innovation route. During 2015, electric buses, electric hybrids and charging infrastructure will be delivered to the Swedish cities of Gothenburg and Stockholm. The charging infrastructure supplied by Siemens includes the charging station, auxiliary equipment, cabling, civil works, installation, commissioning and maintenance. The Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid bus enables the reduction of fuel consumption and carbon dioxide by up to 75% and total energy consumption to be reduced by 60% compared with Euro6 diesel buses. The Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid runs in electric mode on average 70% of the route. Charging at end stations takes up to six minutes.

President Volvo Bus Corporation, Hakan Agnevall, said, ‘We are very pleased to partner with one of the world’s largest technology companies, which shares our vision of electromobility. The agreement enables us to seize new business opportunities and support the cities in the shift to sustainable and cost efficient public transportation systems.’