Volvo Buses rolls out first of 100-unit order for 8400 city bus for BMTC

On March 22, Volvo Buses India rolled out its 8400 City Bus featuring a ‘made-in-India’ 8-litre engine. The bus is the first step towards Volvo Buses fulfilling an order for 100 units of the next-generation city bus placed by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). Featuring a new 8-litre engine manufactured by the Volvo Group joint venture in Pithampur, the bus is compliant with UBS-II norms apart from BS IV emission norms.

Commenting on the rollout of the bus, Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO of the Volvo Group, said, “Volvo Buses has been at the forefront of introducing new technologies and concepts in urban transport in India. Our partnership with the BMTC has been integral to this journey. Having delivered the first city bus in 2006, we are proud to note that the BMTC now has over 700 Volvo buses in its fleet. This order for the next generation of city buses is the start of the next phase of our shared drive to promote sustainable mobility.’

Dr. Ekroop Caur, managing director, BMTC, added: “Bengaluru’s urban mobility needs are growing rapidly. We are augmenting our fleet of premium buses to provide commuters a desirable alternative to personal vehicles that are leading causes of congestion and pollution.”

The locally manufactured Volvo D8C engine’s application is not restricted to India. “The made-in-India 8-litre engine has performed very well during internal assessments. We are encouraged to deploy it in other international markets that Volvo participates in,” said Akash Passey, senior vice-president, Business Region International, Volvo Bus Corporation.

The Volvo D8C engine coupled with 6-speed automatic transmission and integrated retarder and optimised rear axle ratio delivers high performance required in city’s start-stop, meaning quick acceleration in the least possible time to enable quickest transit time from bus stop to city road. The engine supplies a peak power of 330hp in order to meet optimal power-to-weight ratio and ensure reserve power, which is critical to meet three areas: for good city duty cycle – instant acceleration, air-conditioning performance, and gradeability.

According to Volvo Buses, the bus, which is capable of doing 17-hour duty cycles, is easy to drive and offers excellent handling ability and rollover protection. Additional safety features include powerful disc brakes on all wheels, roll stabilisers and a true-bus suspension system.