Arriva London acquires final batch of 72 electric double-deckers from Volvo Bus UK
Volvo Bus UK & Ireland has completed delivery of 72 battery-electric vZL Electric double-decker buses to Arriva London. The final vehicles have been received at Arriva's Tottenham depot and will enter service across North London, as part of a wider £340m investment by Arriva in renewing its UK bus fleet.
Based on the BZL Electric platform, each bus features five lithium-ion batteries delivering 470 kW/h of onboard energy storage as well as Volvo’s 200 kW electric driveline, which is paired with a two-speed automated gearbox and a conventional rear axle. According to Volvo, this configuration is intended to deliver smooth performance as well as ‘easy’ maintenance requirements.
Arriva has said that the new vehicles have been well received by drivers, with Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of the company’s UK Bus division, commenting: “Volvo vehicles continue to perform strongly in urban and rural service areas, giving us confidence in their reliability and day-to-day operational efficiency.” He added that drivers appreciate the buses’ handling characteristics and quiet operation, while Volvo’s UK network of dealerships has also influenced the operator’s continued investments in the manufacturer.
Richard Mann, Sales Director at Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, added that “Arriva’s continued investment in Volvo Buses is a clear endorsement of the real-world operation of our vehicles.”
The latest delivery of buses are part of a wider collaboration between Arriva and Volvo. As previously reported, Arriva London ordered 51 Volvo BZL double-deckers in July 2024 for deployment from its Tottenham garage on routes 243 and 341. This order marked Volvo Buses’ first all-electric order from Arriva London and marked a key milestone in the operator’s fleet electrification strategy.
Currently, Arriva also has a further order in place with Volvo in the form of 63 B8RLE MCV eVoRa diesel buses. These are set to enter service in Bangor, Luton, and Teesside during Q4 of 2026.