Volvo BZL

The Volvo BZL is a full-size zero-emission battery electric bus chassis for both single-decker buses and double-decker buses, manufactured by Volvo since 2021.

The BZL Electric range was launched in September 2021, with the first right-hand drive examples being built as demonstrators for the UK and Ireland market, using double-decker and single-decker bodies by MCV Bus & Coach. The chassis range features heat pump-powered heating and ventilation, and is claimed to be 90% recyclable. It is also built to a high safety standard with multiple new safety innovations such as sealed battery compartments and a strengthened front frame.

United Kingdom
The first 25 Volvo BZLs for the United Kingdom began to be delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland for use in Ayrshire in February 2023. The first double-deck MCV-bodied BZLs followed in May 2023, with 30 entering service with Stagecoach East in Cambridge for use on the city's park and ride system. Stagecoach Manchester's Stockport depot is to take delivery 150 double-deck and 20 single-deck BZLs in summer 2024, the largest zero-emissions bus order by the Stagecoach Group to date.

In London, Metroline was the first Transport for London operator to order Volvo BZLs, ordering forty-eight MCV-bodied single-deck BZLs in November 2022, the first 14 of which entered service on route 251 from January 2024. Metroline are also scheduled to take delivery of a further 28 BZL single-decks for use on routes 228 and 316 during the first quarter of 2024. Stagecoach London followed with an order for 19 single-deck BZLs, which entered service on route 276, following with a further order of 16 single-decks for route 314 and 45 double decks for routes 58, 277 and D7. Arriva London announced in July 2024 that it plans to take delivery of 51 double-deck BZLs for use on routes 243 and 341 from early 2025.

Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Warrington's Own Buses plans to take delivery of 105 single and double-deck BZLs to replace the operator's entire diesel bus fleet, with deliveries planned to commence in early 2024, while Lothian Buses plans to take delivery of 50 double-deck BZLs in two batches for service in Edinburgh in 2024. Demonstrator models have entered service with Stagecoach South in Winchester, East Yorkshire in Kingston upon Hull, and First South Yorkshire in Sheffield.

Australia
In Australia, a BZL with a Volgren Optimus single-decker body designed for the Australia and New Zealand market was unveiled in October 2021 at Volvo's Australian headquarters in Brisbane. The first four Volgren-bodied BZLs entered service with Transperth in the suburbs of Perth between February and March 2022, followed by the first of 17 BZLs ordered for Transdev Queensland in February 2023, and two BZLs for the Transport for Brisbane for use on the Spring Hill Loop service in May 2023.

Other markets
In Singapore, a Volvo BZL with a three-door SC Neustar City body, unveiled in November 2022 and developed in joint partnership between Volvo and local bus and coach bodywork manufacturer SC Auto, entered service on a one-year trial with Tower Transit Singapore starting 26 March 2023. In Colombia, a Volvo BZL built with Marcopolo bodywork was unveiled at a tech expo in the capital Bogotá in June 2023 for use on the city's TransMilenio bus rapid transit (BRT) system, the first bus from a European manufacturer to be delivered to the country; this BZL began trial operations in Curitiba in Brazil, with further trials in the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile to follow.