MCV EvoSeti

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MCV EvoSeti
EvoSeti on Volvo B5TL (Bath Bus Company, 2016)
Overview
ManufacturerMCV
Production2015–present
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisVolvo B5TL
Volvo B5LH
Volvo B8L
Powertrain
EngineVolvo D5K (B5LH/B5TL)
Volvo D8K (B8L)
Capacityup to 102 seats
TransmissionZF EcoLife (B8L/B5TL)
Volvo I-Shift (B5LH)
Dimensions
Length10.5m/10.8m/12m/12.8m
Width2.5m
Height4.3m
Chronology
PredecessorMCV DD103

The MCV EvoSeti (stylised as eVoSeti) is a low-floor double-decker bus body built by MCV Bus & Coach as a replacement for the MCV DD103. It was unveiled in May 2015.

Description[edit]

The EvoSeti is built on the Volvo B5TL and Volvo B5LH[1] 2-axle chassis for the UK, also with the 12m and 12.8m tri-axle Volvo B8L for Hong Kong. Typically, UK examples have 1 passenger door for use outside London, or Transport for London specification dual door for London use. It is also available as an open-top bus.[2]

Operators[edit]

The Go-Ahead Group is the largest operator of the EvoSeti in the United Kingdom. Go-Ahead London currently operate 99 EvoSetis on hybrid Volvo B5LH chassis as of August 2017. The first 20 entered service in April 2016 with London Central on routes 35 and 40.[1][3] Additionally, morebus operate three closed-roof and nine open-top EvoSetis on their Purbeck Breezer services, utilising the diesel Volvo B5TL chassis.

Elsewhere in London, Tower Transit had 51 B5LH EvoSetis delivered in May 2017,[4][5] while Golden Tours took delivery of 21 open top B5TL EvoSetis in 2015 and 2016.[6] Metroline ordered EvoSeti bodied Volvo B5LHs initially for their takeovers of London routes 30, 113 and 274 before commencing repeat orders in 2018 and 2019.[7]

East Yorkshire is another large operator of the type; the first production EvoSeti was delivered to East Yorkshire Motor Services on a Volvo B5TL chassis.[8] This was followed by a £3.5 million order for 18 more B5TL EvoSetis, which were delivered through 2016 and 2017 for use primarily on long-distance routes to destinations such as York, Bridlington and Withernsea.[9]

In October 2016, First South Yorkshire commenced operating a B5TL EvoSeti demonstrator on route X78 between Sheffield and Doncaster. This vehicle was subsequently purchased by Ensignbus, later passing to the Bath Bus Company.[10] Four more B5TL EvoSetis were delivered new to the Bath fleet between 2017 and February 2020.[11]

Tri-axle bodies[edit]

A Kowloon Motor Bus MCV EvoSeti bodied Volvo B8L in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, Kowloon Motor Bus operate a large fleet of tri-axle EvoSetis on the Volvo B8L chassis, initially taking on two examples for evaluation before a first order for 110 was completed in October 2020.[12]

The EvoSeti-bodied Volvo B8L would later be developed for the UK market, retaining Hong Kong-specification air conditioning and seating for high-capacity use predominantly on rail replacement and private hire work as opposed to conventional bus services. The first eight tri-axle EvoSetis in the United Kingdom were delivered to Golden Tours in early 2020,[13] followed by tri-axle EvoSetis being delivered to Imperial Coaches, Sanders Coaches,[14] Aldermaston Coach Lines,[15] and Archway Travel.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b It's a first for Go-Ahead with Volvo B5LH MCV Volvo Buses 25 April 2016
  2. ^ Jones, Stuart (21 May 2015). "MCV unveils EvoSeti double decker". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  3. ^ It's a first for Go-Ahead with Volvo B5LH MCV Route One 25 April 2016
  4. ^ MCV continues to march on with EvoSeti Route One 10 May 2016
  5. ^ "First B5LH Evoseti double-decks for Tower Transit". Bus & Coach Professional. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  6. ^ Volvo shines as Golden Tours takes delivery of 21 new buses Volvo Buses 23 March 2016
  7. ^ "London Omnibus Traction Society". www.lots.org.uk.
  8. ^ MCV unveils EvoSeti double decker Bus & Coach Buyer 21 May 2015
  9. ^ "East Yorkshire Motor Services doubles multi-million pound investment with Volvo" (Press release). Volvo Buses United Kingdom & Ireland. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  10. ^ Barrow, David (21 September 2017). "MCV supplying from afar". Buses. Stamford: Key Publishing. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Two new Volvo MCV eVoSetis for Bath Bus Company" (Press release). Volvo Buses United Kingdom & Ireland. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Second MCV EvoSeti-bodied B8L for KMB". Buses. Stamford: Key Publishing. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ Deakin, Tim (13 November 2020). "Test drive: Volvo B8L MCV EvoSeti tri-axle". routeone. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  14. ^ "New Volvo double-deck buses advance standardisation for Sanders Coaches" (Press release). Warwick: Volvo Buses United Kingdom & Ireland. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  15. ^ Deakin, Tim (22 January 2024). "The capacity kings: Aldermaston Coach Lines' B8L EvoSeti pair". routeone. Retrieved 22 January 2024.

External links[edit]