# Volvo BZL

The Volvo BZL is a full-size zero tailpipe emissions battery electric bus chassis for both single-deck buses and double-deck buses, manufactured by Volvo AB since 2021.
First launched in 2021 for the United Kingdom and Ireland markets, featuring both double-decker and single-decker bodies built by MCV Bus & Coach, the BZL chassis range features CO$_2$ 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.

## Operators
### 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 MCV double-deck 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. In what would have been the largest zero-emissions bus order by the Stagecoach Group to date, Stagecoach Manchester's Stockport depot was to take delivery of 150 double-deck and 20 single-deck BZLs for franchised Bee Network bus services, however severe delays relating to the construction of a new Stockport depot saw the fleet's delivery reallocated to Stagecoach's Middleton and Metroline Manchester's Ashton and Hyde Road depots; a further twelve single-deck BZLs have since been ordered by an unspecified Bee Network operator.
In London, Metroline was the first Transport for London operator to order Volvo BZLs, ordering 48 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, while Go-Ahead London announced in February 2025 that it is to take delivery of 25 single-deck BZLs.
Elsewhere in the United Kingdom, municipal bus operator Warrington's Own Buses plans to take delivery of 105 single and double-deck BZLs to replace their entire diesel bus fleet, with the first entering service in July 2024, while Lothian Buses took delivery of the first of 50 double-deck BZLs for service in Edinburgh in September 2024. Demonstrator models have entered also service with Stagecoach South in Winchester, East Yorkshire in Kingston upon Hull, and First South Yorkshire in Sheffield.

### Australia

As of January 2025, over 55 Volvo BZLs with Volgren bodies were in service across Australia. The BZL for the Australia and New Zealand market, bodied exclusively by Volgren, was unveiled in October 2021 at Volvo's Australian headquarters in Brisbane, with the first four BZLs entering service with Transperth on the Joondalup Perth Central Area Transit (CAT) service in February and March 2022. The first of a further 18 for Transperth was delivered in August 2024 for use on a wider range of the CAT services.
In Victoria, CDC Melbourne took delivery of eight BZLs for delivery between 2022 and 2024. Latrobe Valley Bus Lines and Seymour Bus Lines also took delivery of one and three BZLs respectively.
The first of 17 BZLs began to be delivered to Transdev Queensland in February 2023, Hornibrook Bus Lines took delivery of 16 for its new North Lakes depot in late 2023, making it the first bus depot operated entirely by electric buses in Queensland.

### Other markets

In Singapore, a Volvo BZL with a three-door SC Neustar City body was unveiled in November 2022, developed in joint partnership between Volvo and local bus and coach bodywork manufacturer SC Auto, and registered SG4007T. It entered service on a one-year trial with Tower Transit from 26 March 2023, mainly operating on route 282 and 990 until the conclusion of the trial in March 2024.
In Malaysia, the Volvo BZL-GML Eco Range was launched in May 2024 in partnership with local body manufacturer Gemilang Coachworks, with a trial on Rapid Bus free services that commenced later in the year. It was registered BRV9542.
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.
Volvo later launched the step entrance and low entry BZR bus and coach chassis range in March 2024, featuring variants tailored closer to the Latin American bus market that use similar battery electric technology to both the BZL and its electric Volvo FH trucks.