Volvo B5LH (B5L Hybrid/BRLH)
Volvo B5LHC
Volvo B5L S-Charge
Arriva London Wright Eclipse Gemini 2-bodied B5LHs in Liverpool Street station in October 2022
Overview
ManufacturerVolvo
Production2008-2009 (pre-production batches with D5E engine, B5LH)
2010-present (serial production, B5LH)
2016-2018 (B5LHC)
2020-present (B5L S-Charge)
Body and chassis
DoorsSingle door or Dual door
Floor typeLow floor
Powertrain
EngineEuro V: Volvo D5F-215 and I-SAM
Euro VI: D5K-240 and I-SAM
Capacityup to 90 Passengers
TransmissionVolvo I-Shift 12-speed auto
Dimensions
Length10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) or 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in) (Early version: 10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)) (Double-decker)
18.0 m (59 ft 1 in) (Articulated)
Width2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
Heightvaries, depending on bus body type

The Volvo B5LH (initially known as the Volvo B5L Hybrid, also known as the Volvo BRLH) is a low-floor hybrid electric bus chassis for both single-decker buses and double-decker buses manufactured by Volvo since 2008. It is the basis for Volvo's integral 7700 Hybrid full low floor city bus and its successor, the 7900 Hybrid from 2011. In 2008, pre-production batches of both types of chassis were manufactured. Serial production started in June 2010.[1] From 2013 it is also available as an articulated bus chassis. First entering service in London, the B5LH is the only current double decker type in service in the United Kingdom that uses a parallel hybrid drive system.

An updated version, the Volvo B5LHC, was launched in 2016, designed for high-capacity inner-city work. The chassis was available in the United Kingdom with Wright SRM bodywork, which in terms of front-end styling is identical in appearance to London's New Routemaster buses. The B5LHC was discontinued in 2018 after only two examples built, with Volvo instead focusing on developing the Volvo BZL battery electric bus chassis.[2]

On 14 April 2020, Volvo announced the S-Charge self-charging hybrid version of B5L chassis, which replaced original hybrid model.[3] It is known as Volvo B5L S-Charge and can run in electric mode at the speeds up to 50 km/h, up from 20 km/h in previous model. The previous B5LH continues to be available in certain markets, such as the UK.

Design and Performance

The B5LH is powered by Volvo's in-house parallel hybrid drive train that couple its I-SAM motor to a 5-litre D5-series diesel engine. The drive train is connected to the Volvo I-Shift automatic transmission that drives the rear axle. The whole drive train is mounted in-line at the left rear of the chassis, similar to the B7L. A lithium battery pack is mounted just behind the front left wheel, powering the I-SAM motor system.

The B5LH features stop-start system that allows its engine to cut off when the bus is stationary and the battery is sufficiently charged. It is also capable to drive at full-electric mode from standstill to up to 20 km/h (12 mph). In service, Volvo claims that the B5LH achieves 35% improvement on fuel consumption and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide by an equivalent amount.[4] In-service data in London shows that the B5LH is demonstrating between 25 and 40% of fuel consumption improvement.[5]

Operators

Volvo 7900A Hybrid-bodied B5LAH at Busworld Kortrijk 2013.
An MCV Evora-bodied Volvo B5LH as operated in Singapore

At least four Volvo 7700 Hybrid prototypes were built in late 2008 for initial testing before some of them from 2009 toured many countries as demonstrators, only having short periods of proper duty at various places. In early 2012 two of them ended up in the city of Alta in Finnmark, Norway for year-long testing in the arctic climate with local operator Boreal Transport.

A Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LH demonstrator was delivered to Dublin Bus in early 2014 for evaluation; Dublin planned to lease 3 of the vehicles, but were unable to fund the lease.[6]

In 2017, Latrobe Valley Bus Lines, Australia, purchased 8, bodied with local Volgren bodywork.[7]

In Singapore, the Land Transport Authority purchased fifty MCV Evora bodied Volvo B5LH buses for S$30 million. They entered service from December 2018 with SMRT Buses, SBS Transit and Tower Transit Singapore.[8][9][10]

United Kingdom

Arriva London Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied B5LH in January 2010.

Prior to the introduction of battery electric buses to many of these operators, the hybrid B5LH gained popularity with bus operators across the UK. The first batch of six pre-production B5LH double-deckers entered service with Arriva London in 2009,[11] with production examples later entering service with TfL bus operators Go-Ahead London, London Sovereign, Metroline and Stagecoach London. Outside the capital, the B5LH has been purchased by BakerBus, Brighton & Hove, Bullocks Coaches, Ensignbus, First Essex, First Greater Manchester, First Leeds, Go North East, National Express West Midlands, Oxford Bus Company and Preston Bus.[12] In many cases, a number of operators took deliveries of B5LHs alongside its main rival, the serial hybrid drive Alexander Dennis Enviro400H.

The B5LH was highly popular with both Arriva's London and regional operations, where following the successful trial of the first four B5LHs delivered in 2009, Arriva made further orders of B5LHs for its operations in London, Kent,[13] Manchester and Merseyside,[14][15] Northumbria and Yorkshire,[16][17] with a total of 259 examples being delivered with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodies. The chassis was also delivered to Lothian Buses, with 20 Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5LHs delivered alongside a fleet of Volvo 7900H single deckers in 2015,[18] followed by a further 20 Gemini 3 bodied B5LHs equipped with luggage racks in 2017 for use on Airlink and Skylink services to Edinburgh Airport.[19]

Initially, Wrightbus has been the solitary double-decker body supplier of the chassis. The pre-production batch was fitted with Eclipse Gemini bodywork, and production chassis to date received Eclipse Gemini 2 body. A lighter Eclipse Gemini 3 were later offered to the Euro VI version of the chassis. In March 2014, Volvo would secure a first order of the type from the Stagecoach Group for use on its Stagecoach Strathtay 'Tayway 73' service. These 15 buses were uniquely given Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC bodies and also were operated with conductors until 2020;[20] a further 40 were delivered to Stagecoach London across two batches in 2015,[21][22] while Go-Ahead London also took delivery of Enviro400 MMC bodied B5LHs around the same time.[23]

Engines

D5E,[24] 4764 cc, in-line 4 cyl. turbodiesel (2008—2009)

  • D5E215 - 158 kW (215 bhp), 800 Nm, Euro V

D5F,[25] 4764 cc, in-line 4 cyl. turbodiesel (2009—2013)

  • D5F215 - 161 kW (219 bhp), 800 Nm, Euro V/EEV

D5K,[26] 5132 cc, in-line 4 cyl. turbodiesel (2013—present)

  • D5K240 - 177 kW (240 bhp), 918 Nm, Euro VI

References

  1. ↑ Volvo to commence serial production of hybrid buses Archived 1 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Volvo Buses 28 May 2010
  2. ↑ "Electric 'decker due from Volvo as hybrid grows". routeone. 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Volvo's new self-charging bus can now drive longer | Volvo Buses
  4. ↑ World Debut for Volvo Hybrid Double-deck Allaboutbuses 4 November 2008
  5. ↑ Hybrid Fuel Consumption – At Last The Truth? Boriswatch 24 June 2013
  6. ↑ Griffin, Dan (26 January 2016). "Government turns down Dublin Bus funding request for trial of hybrid buses". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  7. ↑ "Volvo Sells Eight Hybrid Buses to Australia". Contify Automotive News. 21 November 2017. Factiva AUTONW0020171121edbl0008m.
  8. ↑ "LTA to roll out 50 diesel hybrid buses by second half of 2018". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Breakthrough order of 50 Volvo hybrid buses to Singapore | Volvo Buses". Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  10. ↑ "LTA to Deploy 50 Diesel Hybrid Buses from December 2018". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  11. ↑ Volvo Hybrid Double Deck handed over at historic venue Arriva London 9 July 2009
  12. ↑ Low carbon buses part-funded through the Green Bus fund UK Government
  13. ↑ Boyle, Danny (15 March 2013). "Arriva buses a breath of cleaner air in Maidstone". Kent Online. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  14. ↑ Challen, John (19 March 2013). "Arriva North West goes for 44 Volvo hybrid buses". Transport Engineer. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Arriva invests £15.5m in green buses for NW". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Arriva places £26.7m orders for 98 new greener buses" (Press release). Arriva UK Bus. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "Arriva Yorkshire unveils fleet of 'Frankenbuses'". BBC News. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Cole, David (29 September 2015). "Doors Open Day". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 14 December 2023. The latest deliveries, this summer's 20 Volvo B5LH Wrightbus Gemini 3s with the latest frontal styling, carry standard madder, white and gold fleet livery.
  19. ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (29 September 2017). "Lothian Buses roll out first of all-electric vehicles". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "Stagecoach launches its ADL Volvo 'deckers". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  21. ↑ Wharmby, Matthew (30 January 2020). The London Volvo B9TL & B5LH. Pen and Sword Transport. pp. 163–168. ISBN 978-1-52674-963-5. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  22. ↑ Jones, Stuart (27 October 2014). "Your partner for the complete journey". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 16 December 2023. Phil [Owen] is very pleased that after a long gap Volvo had won its first bus orders from Stagecoach group. Stagecoach Dundee is to take 18 B5LH hybrids with ADL bodies in June/July 2015, 32 having been supplied to Stagecoach London earlier this year.
  23. ↑ "16 new Volvo B5LHs get the Go-Ahead in London". routeone. 27 October 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  24. ↑ Datenblatt VTS0906 Volvo Bus Schweiz
  25. ↑ Volvo B5LH spec sheet Volvo Buses - UK & Ireland
  26. ↑ Volvo D5K Hybrid Euro6 fact sheet Volvo Buses
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