| 30-01-2008 Nova
Bus, a subsidiary of Volvo Bus Corporation, has received an order for 141 hybrid
buses to TransLink in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The contract includes an option for
an additional 110 buses. Nova
Bus is one of the largest manufacturer of city buses in Canada. The Nova LFS bus
model is available in a number of variants, including the Nova LFS HEV hybrid
version. This
North American hybrid is an electric/diesel combination features a planetary gearbox
linking an electric drive with a smaller diesel engine than normally used in the
bus model. The vehicle delivers its best performances on low speed stop-and-go
routes, significantly reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
This agreement
represents a new chapter in the growing partnership between TransLink, the Greater
Vancouver Area transit authority, and Nova Bus, after the delivery of 126 diesel-powered
Nova LFS buses in 2007. The
buses were well-received by drivers, maintenance personnel and passengers alike.
This new order is a testament to the entire Nova Bus team's continuous commitment
to quality, environmental concerns, life-cycle cost and customer satisfaction. "This
purchase is really two shades of green," says TransLink CEO Pat Jacobsen.
"Thirty-two of the buses will add capacity to our system and give people
a cleaner, greener alternative to driving. The remaining 109 will replace some
of the oldest vehicles in TransLink's fleet and reduce all emissions, some by
as much as 97 per cent per bus," she says. Nova
Bus has two plants in Canada at which the buses will be manufactured. Deliveries
are scheduled to begin in mid-2009.
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