| Volvo B10BLE | |
|---|---|
 Säffle 2000-bodied B10BLE inFinland | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volvo |
| Production | 1993–2004 |
| Assembly | Sweden |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Buschassis |
| Doors | 1, 2 or 3 |
| Floor type | Low entry |
| Related | Volvo B10B |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 9.6-litre horizontally rear-mounted I-6 Volvo THD103/THD104/DH10A (Diesel) Volvo THG103/GH10A/GH10B/GH10C (CNG/biogas) |
| Capacity | 30 to 45 seated |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 12.0m, 13.7m and 14.5m |
| Width | 2500mm |
| Height | 3000mm |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Volvo B7RLE Volvo B12BLE |
TheVolvo B10BLE is arear-enginedlow-entrysingle-decker bus chassis manufactured byVolvo in Sweden between 1993 and 2004. The first prototypes were built in 1992, but mass production started in 1993, only a year after thehigh-floorB10B. It was popular inAustralia,Scandinavia and theUnited Kingdom. It had the engine mounted on the rear overhang of the bus. It became the successor of thecity bus version of theB10B and was used as a base forsingle-decker buses worldwide. The B10BLE was available in diesel powered format, and later in acompressed natural gas powered format with the fuel tanks on the roof of the bus. Itslow-floor design was widely promoted by Volvo when it was first launched, on the basis of added convenience to the passengers, and the increase in transport efficiency due to the low-floor design.
The production of the diesel powered variants ended in 2001 to give way forB7RLE andB12BLE, while the CNG variants were produced until 2004. In theUnited Kingdom market,Volvo unsuccessfully tried to replace the B10BLE with theB7L in 2001, but realised that it was not as popular among the customers and offered the B7RLE from 2003. This situation was similar toB10L one, which was replaced by B10BLE in 1997, three years after B10L was introduced here and also due to limited success.
The Volvo B10BLE features a Volvo DH10A engine with a displacement of 9,600 cc (586 cu in). It is an inline six-cylinderfour-strokediesel engine with aturbocharger andintercooler. This engine used adry sump system due to being horizontally mounted. The engine has a power output of either 245 or 285 bhp (183 or 213 kW). The engine is able to meetEuro II emissions limits.
The name of the chassis stands for:
Optionally available is a Volvo GH10-series (GH10A, GH10B, GH10C)natural gas orbiogas engine. All generations of this engine are inline four-stroke six-cylinder spark-ignition engines with a turbocharger and intercooler. The GH10A and GH10B engines were lean-burn engines and the GH10C is a "mixed-lean" engine, operating on an optimised balance between stoichiometric and lean-burn combustion strategies. Power ratings vary from 245 bhp (183 kW) in the GH10A to 290 bhp (220 kW) in the uprated version of the GH10C. The GH10C is able to meetEuro IV emissions limits.
In Australia,Sydney Buses purchased 125,[1]Westbus 41[2] andGrenda Corporation 16.[3]
In mainland Europe, B10BLEs were bodied by Säffle/Aabenraa, Carrus and other local manufacturers.
In Singapore, allSBS Transit B10BLEs were bodied byVolgren of Australia.
One diesel-powered demonstrator (SBS1688K) was introduced in 1997. they had entered service in 1998, plying on Bus 16. The bus was retired and scrapped in 2015 after reaching its 17-year lifespan. It was also SBS's first low-entry bus.[4][5] SBS1688K was powered by the Volvo DH A-245 engine (9,603cc), and fitted with a 5-speed ZF Ecomat 5HP 500 transmission that is compliant to meet european emission standard Euro 2.
However, the other 12 wereCompressed natural gas powered. 2 units entered service in April and July 2002, initially serving Jurong Island routes. When the contract ended, these buses were redeployed to serve bus routes serving the far west of Singapore. The remaining 10 buses, which were kept in storage, entered revenue service in early 2006. Due to the scarcity of Compressed natural gas refueling points in Singapore and various factors, all units were withdrawn by July 2019. Only the first two CNG B10BLEs (SBS2988M & SBS2989K) were kept at Saint Andrew's Autism School andTan Tock Seng Hospital respectively for static preservation while the later units were all scrapped. The Compressed natural gas (CNG) B10BLEs are the last public buses to use plastic destination signages and are also the last non-wheelchair accessible single deck rigid buses in Singapore.[6] the CNG batch of these vehicles are equipped with a Volvo GH B-245 engine (9,603cc), which its Euro 3 compliant, and 4-speedZF Ecomat 4HP 500 transmission.
In the United Kingdom, many of the B10BLEs hadWright Renown bodywork, and a small number receivedAlexander ALX300 bodywork. The originalPlaxton Prestige also featured the Volvo chassis as an option, but very few of these were built.[7]
Media related toVolvo B10BLE at Wikimedia Commons