We are delighted to present a Q&A session with Bas Dubois, Managing Director Benelux at Volvo Bus Corporation. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Bas Dubois has held various leadership roles across The Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden within the Volvo Group since 1992. His extensive expertise as an Automotive Engineer and his involvement in international management, engineering, and sales, particularly in European tenders and public transport, have made him a key figure in the transition towards zero-emission public transportation. In this insightful session, Bas Dubois shares his perspectives on the transformative role of electric vehicles in public transport, Volvo’s pioneering achievements in zero-emission solutions, and the future advancements shaping the sustainability of the industry. Expect to gain valuable insights into the evolving market demands, cutting-edge EV technologies, and the importance of collaboration in driving the future of public transport.

#LEVS: As an Automotive Engineer with extensive international experience, how do you see the role of electric vehicles in transforming the public transport sector?

#Bas Dubois: Public transport buses are the most suitable vehicles to be electrified as they typically make their mileage in urban areas and have the highest impact towards citizens. With no tailpipe emissions and low noise, electric buses significantly improve the quality of life in urban areas.

#LEVS: Volvo Bus Corporation has been a pioneer in zero-emission public transport. Could you share some of the key successes and milestones achieved by your team in this area?

#Bas Dubois: Within the Benelux, Luxemburg was the first country where Volvo started its electromobility journey in 2008/2009 by supplying the Volvo 7900 hybrid, a bus with a parallel hybrid driveline with a 600V traction battery and the capability of driving short zero-emission distances. This concept was further developed by adding geofencing to create zero-emission zones, resulting in significant diesel savings (>40%) for customers. After this, Volvo successfully introduced the Volvo 7900 Electric hybrid, a plug-in version with a longer electric range. The city of Differdange (LU) was the first town in the Benelux region where the complete public transport consisted of electric Volvo buses in 2017. Today, Volvo has a global presence on the electric bus market with complete electric buses and electric chassis available in a length from 9 meters up to 28 meters (bi-artic). 

#LEVS: With your experience in European tenders and public transport, how has the demand for electric buses evolved, and what opportunities do you foresee for further expansion in the coming years? 

#Bas Dubois: The demand for zero emission transport is rapidly growing in many European countries. Many cities and regions have set deadlines for when they want to have their public transport to be decarbonised. This creates a large Market for us as a leading supplier of electric buses.

LEVS: Given your background in engineering and sales, how do you balance technical innovation with market needs when it comes to introducing new electric vehicle solutions in public transport?

#Bas Dubois: I have almost 30 years of experience in the public transport sector, and I find it very exciting to be part of this transition. For many decades we have been using internal combustion engines to motorise our public transport and now there is this paradigm shift, where we together with many stakeholders need to find new ways to cooperate, so that we can further decarbonise our societies.

LEVS: What are some of the most promising advancements in EV technology that Volvo Bus Corporation is currently focusing on to further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of public transport?

#Bas Dubois: The areas where I see a lot of advancement are new battery technologies and the integration of data and connectivity.

#LEVS: How do you think events like the London EV Show contribute to the advancement of the electric vehicle industry, particularly in fostering collaboration and innovation within the public transport sector?

#Bas Dubois: At Volvo Group we believe that partnership is the new leadership and that events like the London EV Show are the perfect place to find new partnerships, share experiences, and get inspiration for new solutions. Such events contribute to the advancement of the electric vehicle industry, particularly in fostering collaboration and innovation within the public transport sector.