Volvo has announced plans to launch a new hybrid bus for Europe at the IAA Bus and Truck Show in Hanover, Germany this September. No stranger to building big hybrids, Volvo had been waiting to have a go at a bus until it was more "commercially viable." Now, with many parts based on standard products, the company believes it is approaching a "generational shift" and will be able to save customers up to 30 percent of their fuel cost which would allow them to recover the extra bump in the price tag relatively quickly.

The first hybrid model is a 12 meter (40 foot) low-floor city bus with all the components of its parallel hybrid drivetrain sourced from Volvo. The hybrid uses a 5 liter diesel engine that is smaller than the one normally used in this chassis which allows them to add the extra hybrid bits within the same space. The weight of the hybrid is about the same as the diesel model was but has better weight distribution and so can carry more passengers. Though it's not mentioned in the information from Volvo, there is an articulated model present in the press images (see gallery below) and we suspect that this may be part of their future plans - at least, we hope so. The official press release is after the break.



[Source: Volvo]