Volvo Buses has announced that sales of its electrified buses have crossed the 4,000 unit sales mark globally, with the latest order for 90 hybrid buses having come in from Brussels. 

The latest order for the 90 Volvo 7900 hybrids is from STIB-MIVB, which provides public transport in Brussels. Most of the new buses to be delivered will enter operations this year. The order for the new hybrid buses is part of Brussels' step in expanding and modernising the city's public transport, with an aim to electrify its entire vehicle fleet by 2030 at the latest. Volvo has till now sold around 90 hybrids and 101 electric hybrids to Belgium.

"Belgium continues to take the lead for cleaner and quieter urban traffic. Just a year ago, we received an equally large order for electrified buses from TEC for the Belgian cities Charleroi and Namur. Now Brussels too is choosing our technology. This is a major success that takes our total sales of electrified buses to over 4,000 units," said Hakan Agnevall, president, Volvo Buses.

The Volvo 7900 hybrid is propelled entirely electrically and is emission-free from standstill up to 15–20kph. As speed increases, a small diesel engine is activated. The company claims the 7900 Hybrid series offers 30–40 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions; particle and nitrogen oxide emissions is lower by 50 percent, compared to a corresponding diesel bus.