Under the global partnership agreement, Volvo Buses will supply electric-hybrid buses and full-electric buses, with ABB supplying standard-based fast-charging solutions for the electric vehicles.

The partnership involves working toward a standardization of automatic e-bus fast charging on the market. This can include the communications protocol between infrastructure charging solution and e-bus, electrical interface and specification of the automatic connection system (ACS). The ACS is located on the roof of the bus and connects the bus with the fast charger at selected charging stops.

The first joint project will be the implementation of Volvo Electric Hybrids and automatic e-bus chargers in the Luxembourg public transport system. Potentially 12 Volvo Electric Hybrid buses operated by Sales-Lentz will be running on existing public bus lines in Luxembourg as of 2015.

Sales-Lentz has a history of being an early adopter and was the first European operator running Volvo Hybrids already in 2009. This project is another strong example of a public-private partnership between Sales-Lentz, the ministries of Luxembourg and Volvo Buses.

The project is integrated into Luxembourg’s Mobility Network, a network that links different mobility projects in the Grand Duchy to exploit synergies and develop common visions for the mobility of the future.

The Volvo Electric Hybrid, which reduces energy consumption by 60% compared with a conventional diesel bus, will be officially launched at the IAA exhibition in Hannover in Germany in September. Volvo’s first full-electric buses will be launched in June 2015 within the ElectriCity project in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Volvo Buses launched its first hybrid bus in 2009 and has delivered nearly 1,600 hybrids to 21 countries.