Skip to main content

Swedish city moves to all-electric public transport

The city of Värnamo in southern Sweden is making the move to all-electric public transport and has ordered four electric buses from Volvo, with the aim of quadrupling the number of journeys by public transport over a three-year period. Officials plan to construct a new bus lane in the city to improve the appeal of public transport and improve accessibility. The four electric hybrid buses and their ABB charging station will be delivered as a turnkey solution, with Volvo assuming responsibility for main
January 17, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The city of Värnamo in southern Sweden is making the move to all-electric public transport and has ordered four electric buses from 609 Volvo, with the aim of quadrupling the number of journeys by public transport over a three-year period.

Officials plan to construct a new bus lane in the city to improve the appeal of public transport and improve accessibility.

The four electric hybrid buses and their ABB charging station will be delivered as a turnkey solution, with Volvo assuming responsibility for maintenance of the buses and their batteries at a fixed monthly cost.

The Volvo 7900 electric hybrid operates without any exhaust gases for about 70 per cent of its route. Charging the batteries at the charging station takes three to four minutes with the help of a system known as opportunity charging. The buses operating in Värnamo will run on renewable electricity and renewable HVO fuel, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 90 per cent.

Related Content

  • IRD polishes WiM’s green credentials
    December 21, 2020
    A project in Canada is proving that Weigh in Motion can have a positive environmental impact, by helping to reduce emissions. Adam Hill looks at International Road Dynamics’ numbers
  • Reversible express lanes and open road tolling combat congestion
    March 2, 2012
    Teri England, Diamond Consulting Services, details the construction of construction of a world first - reversible express lanes with cashless multi-lane ORT - on the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway
  • Road user charging – change the name to change public perceptions
    February 2, 2012
    Jack Opiola explores the oft-underestimated effect that a charging scheme's name can have on public acceptability and ultimate success. The Bard of Avon wrote: "What's in a name?" For transport, especially Road User Charging, that is an especially relevant question.
  • InfoConnect delivers accurate travel information on all levels
    August 1, 2012
    Deryk Whyte provides an overview of how the New Zealand Transport Agency's InfoConnect concept was developed. Historically, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) (formerly Transit New Zealand) has faced challenges in communicating effectively with road users, its customers, about highway-related events or incidents in a timely, accurate manner. Prior to 2007, Transit relied on a third-party organisation to collect and disseminate national road condition information. This often resulted in incomplete infor