The city-state of Luxembourg became the latest metro area to plug in its public transit, as local bus operator AVL ordered 5 plug-in hybrid buses from Volvo. Electronics giant ABB will supply the charging equipment.

Luxembourg City already has 14 Volvo 7900 Hybrid buses, which went into service in 2011. The new Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrids and ABB chargers will be delivered towards the end of 2016.

AVL is buying the buses as a turnkey solution – Volvo will handle vehicle and battery maintenance for a fixed monthly cost.

Volvo’s 7900 Electric Hybrid has an electric motor and a small diesel engine, and can be powered by electricity for up to 70% of operating time. According to Volvo, it delivers 60% lower energy consumption and 75-90% lower carbon emissions than a legacy diesel bus.

ABB’s bus chargers use an inverted pantograph that connects to a small interface on the roof of the bus. They are based on the international IEC 61851-23 standard, and feature a modular design that offers charging power of 150, 300 or 450 kW.

In February, Volvo and ABB sold 11 plug-in hybrid buses and chargers to the city of Namur, Belgium.

“Sustainable mobility investments that reduce congestion and improve air quality are increasing,” said Pekka Tiitinen, President of ABB’s Discrete Automation and Motion division. “We will continue to develop our e-mobility technology portfolio and work closely with companies like Volvo to ensure we provide the solutions these cities and public transportation systems expect.”

“The decision to operate the first plug-in buses by the end of 2016 aligns with our continuous efforts to create a sustainable city. Society will benefit from this project through a cleaner environment, reduced noise levels and increased comfort during bus journeys. This project represents the starting point in our endeavor to a zero-emission urban bus system in the near future,” says Luxembourg First Deputy Mayor Sam Tanson.

Sources: Volvo Buses, ABB