Volvo BZL Electric Articulated bus launched in Australia
Volvo BZL Electric Articulated bus is built on the brand’s low-floor, fully electric articulated chassis, tailor-made for high-capacity urban services.
Volvo Buses has unveiled Australia’s first locally built electric articulated bus, built by local bus body builder Volgren. The 18‑metre Volvo BZL Electric Articulated built on Volvo’s low‑floor, fully electric articulated chassis offers 57 seats and high passenger capacity for frequent urban routes.
The bus us aimed at expanding high‑capacity zero‑emission urban services and trialling electric articulated operation with the Australian bus operator Transperth in Perth. The trail run will allow operators to validate range, duty cycles and charging strategies in real-world conditions.
Volvo’s fully electric low‑floor articulated BZL platform is designed for high‑capacity city operation and supports multiple battery and charging configurations to suit route needs. It is also is compatible with depot and opportunity (fast) charging strategies and is designed for high uptime and reliable duty cycles in intensive urban service.
Related: Volvo BZRT bi-articulated electric buses ready for BRT systems worldwide
The bus features a dual motor EPT802 (2 x 200 kW) drivetrain aided by 12 LFP battery packs in total amounting to a capacity of 497 kWh. It supports CCS2 charging. Sturdy chassis and compact design enhances its passenger capacity as against single‑deck 12‑m buses, thereby making it suitable for busy corridors.
This is a genuine ‘Australia first’, and the Volvo BZL Electric Articulated has been built right here in Perth. It was developed with the Australian market in mind, and specifically to meet the needs of the PTA, an operator we have partnered with for more than a decade. Bringing a brand-new electric platform to market, locally bodied and tailored to the needs of the Perth transit network, is something we are incredibly proud of
– Mark Fryer, Director, Product & Industry, Volvo Buses Asia Pacific
Volvo BZL Electric (rigid axle) built with Volgren Optimum bodies has been operating in Australia since 2022. With more than 140 of these buses now operating nationally, the platform is backed by an established base of technical knowledge, operator confidence and local support.
