Transit operator Tide Buss has placed an order for 25 Volvo 7900 Electric buses for the city of Trondheim, Norway, Volvo’s largest-ever order of fully electric buses.

Trondheim’s transit agency, AtB, was among the first in Europe to order hybrid buses from Volvo in 2010. The new acquisition will bring Trondheim’s fleet of electric buses to a total of 35, the largest in Norway. The new e-buses will run on four routes, covering distances of between 12 and 15 km, and operations are due to start in August 2019.

The buses are being bought as part of a turnkey package whereby Volvo takes care of all vehicle and battery maintenance at a fixed monthly cost. They will be fast-charged via rails installed at the end stops. The charging stations are based on the open OppCharge interface, so they can also be used by other electrified bus makes. The buses will run entirely on renewable energy.

“Electrically powered buses [are] the most energy-efficient solution and contribute to a far better environment for everyone who lives, travels or spends time in the city,” says Volvo Buses President Håkan Agnevall.

“We are committed to electrification of public transport and this initiative serves as a showcase, not only in Norway but throughout Europe,” says Jan-Helge Sandvåg, Technical Director at Tide Buss. “What’s important to us when choosing a supplier is not just Volvo’s world-leading products and competitive terms, but also the confidence we have in the Volvo organization as a stable systems partner that offers high security in our everyday operations.”

Source: Volvo Buses