Growing hybrid market in Europe

The first five months 2012 Volvo has sold more hybrid buses in Europe than accumulated during the last two years. In total we have now sold more than 650 hybrids with the award-winning Volvo in-house parallel hybrid technology. It is very encouraging to see how many operators and cities that make efforts to lower the fuel consumption and environmental load.

After the initial euphoria concerning the dramatic fuel saving (and that the Volvo hybrids actually deliver the savings more or less independently of the duty cycle) we now find many different arguments for the increasing interest for our hybrid buses. Increasing numbers of cities show interest in the Volvo hybrid buses for the silent (electric) start from the bus stop. The increased capacity allowing less buses transporting more passengers in combination are the main drivers for this development.

From inauguration of hybrid buses in Hamburg. Photo by Torsten Wulf.

Recently, Hamburg held an inauguration at Hamburger Hochbahn (read the German summary here) . Their daughter companies Jasper and Süderelbe will operate the buses. Hamburger Hochbahn is well known for their professional operations, a benchmark in Europe. The passenger ratio is raising and the cost coverage beyond 80% is among the highest in Europe. The combination of high appreciation by passengers and good economy is achieved by professionalism in every step from the ticket machine to the workshop.