The Volvo hybrid bus, unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo earlier this month, will be launched in Bangalore soon.

Transport Minister R. Ashok told presspersons here on Monday that the 105-seater single bus would have a two-month trial run this month.

According to a preliminary reports, hybrid bus cuts fuel costs by 30 per cent. It is environment-friendly and emissions are significantly low.

He said the Volvo 7700 hybrid has a diesel engine and an electric motor, which can be used either independently or jointly. The battery that drives the motor is charged through re-generative braking. The engine shuts off when the vehicle is stationary and does not start again till the bus reaches a speed of 15 to 20 kmph, further saving fuel, he said.

While the company's hybrid solutions have been commercialised and are presently operating across 20 cities of the world, the 7700 hybrid model is the first serial production model to implement this green technology. Volvo commenced the serial production for Europe of the Volvo 7700 hybrid in May 2010.

BUS DEPOTS

The Minister said new bus depots would be established in Tumkur, Challakere, Udupi, Hassan and Mysore under public-private partnership.

A divisional workshop would be set up in Puttur, where a new bus-stand would also come up. Foundation stone would be laid on Tuesday or a new depot of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation at Devanahalli on the city outskirts. It would be constructed on a 3.24 acre plot, he said.

Source: The Hindu, BANGALORE, January 24, 2012