First Go Ahead e-bus order for Volvo Buses: 25 BZL models to operate under TfL

Volvo Buses announces it has secured its first electric vehicle order from Go Ahead, the largest operator of bus services in London. The company will add 25 Volvo BZL Electric single deck buses to its fleet later this year.

Measuring 9.7m in length, manufactured at Volvo Buses’ chassis plant in Borås, Sweden, and bodied by Egyptian bodybuilder MCV, they will be built to Transport for London (TfL) specifications and painted in the distinctive red paintwork which has been synonymous with London buses since the 1930s.

In mid-2024 Arriva London has placed an order for 51 Volvo BZL Electric Double Deck buses. 

Volvo BZL electric buses with MCV for London

In March 2023, Volvo Buses announced the decision to cease the production of complete buses, both urban and coach, in Europe. Then, the company had signed letters of intent with MCV for the manufacture of bodies for city and intercity buses, and with Sunsundegui for tourist buses (a cooperation that has been stopped in July 2024). The definitive agreement signed with MCV included the development “an electric bus for intercity traffic”. In March 2024 the new BZR chassis was launched as an addition to an offering made also of the BZL chassis.

Volvo BZL Electric buses for Go Ahead will feature four traction batteries, allowing for a maximum 376kWh of energy storage. Charging will take place primarily overnight at the bus depot, via CCS 2 cable and a bank of 150kW DC chargers.

Upon delivery into service in London, the new vehicles will be supported by a specialist Bus Field Service team within local dealer Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East.

Matt Carney, CEO, Go-Ahead Bus, says: “Volvo Buses have been a staple of the Go-Ahead fleet in London for decades, and we’re excited to be introducing our first BZL Electrics into the capital. They’ll replace a mixture of older diesel and hybrid assets in our fleet, helping to further improve the sustainability of our operation. Placing this order with Volvo directly supports our customer-first culture, known internally as the ‘Go-Ahead Way’. Through this, we pride ourselves in selecting superior vehicles and collaborating with trusted partners to innovate and invest in the services we deliver.”

Domenico Bondi, Managing Director of Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, comments: “Securing our first Volvo BZL Electric order from Go-Ahead is another significant vote of confidence in our zero tailpipe emission range and the huge investment we’ve made in the aftersales support here in the UK to support them. The breadth of options we can offer when it comes to vehicle lengths, energy storage and charging flexibility means customers don’t have to compromise. The BZL Electric is a proven product, being built for cities around the world, and with that comes access to maximum customer choice.”