Group photo with the new Volvo BZL-GML Eco electric bus
Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd and Volvo Buses Malaysia have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to initiate a trial run of a new electric city bus in the Klang Valley. The MoU involves loaning a Volvo BZL-GML Eco Range bus to Rapid KL for up to a year.
Rapid Bus CEO Muhammad Yazurin Sallij Muhammad Yasin explained that the trial will deploy one bus for stage bus services to gather data on its suitability for local roads. He noted that the trial, expected to start in early July, is part of Rapid Bus’ efforts to follow the Transport Ministry’s directive to phase out diesel buses.
Volvo BZL-GML Eco electric bus
Recently, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that their latest diesel bus procurement would be the last. Consequently, the government is looking to speed up the use of electric buses, in line with the New Energy Transition Roadmap. Rapid Bus will soon call for an EV bus tender, aiming to fully transition to electric buses by 2037.
The Volvo BZL-GML Eco Range electric city bus can carry up to 91 passengers, with 33 seated. The bus includes space for wheelchairs and foldable seats to provide more standing room during peak hours, with a customizable body length between 10.6 meters and 12.5 meters.
Muhammad Yazurin Sallij signed the MoU for Rapid Bus, and Marcus Mak, country manager, signed for Volvo Buses (Malaysia). The signing was witnessed by Robert Lejon, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden, Marishya Wilhelmina, central director of Volvo Buses APAC, Mats Nilson, vice-president of Volvo Buses Asia Pacific, and Pang Jun Jie, executive director of Gemilang International Ltd.
