First 60 Hybrids to Curitiba

When I visited Chile and Brazil a half a year ago there was a high interest for actions to decrease the fuel consumption. Santiago, Sao Paolo, Curitiba and Rio all expressed very clear needs.

Volvo has now decided to proceed and start manufacturing of hybrid buses at our plant in Curitiba in Brazil. Read more in the pressrelease.

Global warming caused by climate gases is a major concern and many countries are already facing high costs for extreme weather events. As long as the main energy sources are fossil, I expect energy efficiency to stay on top of the agenda all over the world, for many years to come. As I have written about previously buses offers the most efficient public transport alternative and hybrid buses are even more energy efficient. It is logical that federal and local politicians strive to offer more public transports to lower the cost for transportation for society. Countries that do not have oil them selves also find good reasons to care about the trade balance.

The Volvo Bus commitment to realise highly fuel efficient hybrids not only in Europe is now manifested in the largest order for hybrid buses to date. It is particularly welcome that Curitiba, our home city in south America is first by ordering 60 hybrid buses. Curitiba Mayor, Luciano Ducci, announced the order a few days ago.

Hybrid project team

Earlier this week the hybrid project was moved from the project phase to be absorbed fully by the industrial process.

There was a ceremony with the project team. The Project Managers Peter Franzén, Sebastien Bouchard and Per Fejde summarised the experiences.

And the success was celebrated by a multi articulated pastry hybrid bus.

Volvo CEO Leif Johansson and the future CEO Olof Persson both took part in the ceremony. Leif Johansson took the opportunity to pay special attention to the progress achieved by the very tight cooperation between the bus development and the powertrain development.

Peter Karlsten (CEO for Volvo Powertrain) analysed the project process a historical review dating back to the late 19th century when Ferdinand Porsche and Rudolf Diesel made their pioneering work.

Håkan Karlsson (CEO Volvo Bus) put emphasis on the future prospects of hybrids. In particular he pointed at the close cooperation with our key customers as a success factor.