Volvo B12BLE

The Volvo B12BLE is a low-entry city and suburban bus chassis launched in 2001 with a rear-mounted transverse engine. It superseded the Volvo B10BLE and is used as a base for single-decker buses in Europe and Australia.

Volvo B12BLE
Nobina Volvo B12BLE with Volvo Säffle 8500LE integral body.
Overview
Manufacturer	Volvo Buses
Production	2001-2013
Body and chassis
Doors	2-3 (1-2-0, 2-2-0, 1-2-1, 2-2-1, etc.)
Floor type	Low floor/Low entry
Powertrain
Engine	Volvo DH12D/DH12E
Capacity	41 to 67 seated
Power output	340hp 1700Nm
Transmission	ZF 5HP552C, 6HP552C, 5HP602C, 6HP602C, 6HP604C Voith D864.4, D864.5 Volvo I-Shift AT2412C
Dimensions
Length	12.0m, 12.8m, 13.7m, 14.5m and 18.0m
Chronology
Predecessor	Volvo B10BLE
Successor	Volvo B9RLE

Norgesbuss Volvo B12BLE with Volvo 8700LE body in Oslo, Norway

The B12BLE features the 12-litre Volvo DH12 engine, which is based on the D12 engine from Volvo FH trucks. The DH12D engine meets Euro 3 emission level, and DH12E meets levels 4 and 5 with SCR technology. The engine is mounted horizontally, as it was in the B10BLE. The radiator is mounted at the rear on the right-hand side.

From its launch in 2001 until 2005, it was available with the Euro 3 DH12D engine and ZF Ecomat2 & Voith D864.3E automatic transmissions. From 2004/2005, the B12BLE was available with an updated electrical system. Available transmissions were 6-speed ZF 6HP602C, Voith DIWA864.3E and the Volvo I-Shift

In 2006 the chassis was updated with DH12E engine and ZF Ecomat4 / Voith D864.5 transmissions to meet Euro 4 & 5 emission standards.

The B12BLE was also available in the articulated form since 2005, which is known as the B12BLEA chassis. The B12BLE can be available in the rigid, tri-axle and articulated form.

The B12BLE is also available as a complete integral bus in Europe - the Volvo 8500LE and Volvo 8700LE.

Australia

Numerous public transport operators in Australia operate copious amounts of the B12BLE, either in its Euro III or Euro IV and Euro V guises. Most of the B12BLE chassis that go to Australia are bodied by Australian companies such as Custom Coaches, Volgren and Bustech.

The Volvo B12BLEA was conceptualised for the State Transit Authority (STA) of Sydney, Australia because the B7LA was too underpowered for many of Sydney's bus routes due to the hilly terrain. STA placed an order for 80 B12BLEA articulated buses, and they were assembled with Custom Coaches bodywork. The world's first B12BLEA entered service with STA in late 2005, under the fleet number 1661 (m/o 1661). The buses are powered by the 12-litre Volvo DH12 diesel engine with 6-speed ZF 6HP602C and 6HP604C automatic transmission.

STA also ordered additional B12BLEA's in the Volgren CR228L body. The Volgren bodied buses were mostly seen running the high capacity Metrobus services. Most of the buses are built in Volgren's Tomago factory while the rest were built in Dandenong.

Australian Volvo B12BLE Dashboard

The Volvo B12BLE also come in a 12.5m configuration in Custom Coaches bodied CB60 and CB60 Evo 2 bodies. Volgren 12.5m variants were also ordered in both 12.5m and 14.5m bodies both Euro 5 compliant. The 12.5m Custom Coaches CB60 are Euro 3 compliant while the newer CB60 Evo 2 bodied buses are Euro 5 compliant.

In 2011, Transperth ordered 30 Volvo B12BLEAs. They were to be assembled with Volgren CR228L bodywork.

Transport for Brisbane purchased 119 B12BLEs in 2011 (with a further 30 in 2013), all of them are tri-axle. These are used on several high-frequency bus routes, mostly on the South East Busway.

B12BLE

• 
  Sunbus Bustech VST bodied Volvo B12BLE
• 
  Hopkinsons Custom Coaches 'CB80' bodied Volvo B12BLE
• 
  Westrans Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B12BLE

B12BLEA

• 
  Sydney buses Custom Coaches 'CB60' bodied Volvo B12BLEA
• 
  Metrobus Custom Coaches "CB60 Evo II" bodied Volvo B12BLEA Euro V
• 
  Transperth Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B12BLEA

Singapore

Sentosa's Volvo B12BLEA "road tram"

Two Volvo B12BLEAs are operated by Sentosa under the guise of a beach tram running on the island's Siloso Beach Tram route. The rear module of the bus consists of a large, sheltered standing area with an al-fresco seating area on the elevated part of the bus where the drive axle is. The buses are bodied by ComfortDelGro Engineering Corporation and are speed-limited for safety reasons. The vehicles were in Purple Livery.

End of production

The sales of the B12BLE ceased in Europe in 2011, with the last B12BLE bus production order taking place for Transport for Brisbane (Australia) in 2013. It was superseded by the Volvo B9RLE and subsequently the Volvo B8RLE.

See also

• List of buses

External links

• Product description in Volvo's official website
• Sydney Buses B12BLE description