Volvo B10BLE

Volvo B10BLE
Säffle 2000-bodied B10BLE in Finland
Overview
Manufacturer	Volvo
Production	1992—2004
Assembly	Sweden
Body and chassis
Class	Bus chassis
Doors	1, 2 or 3
Floor type	Low entry
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	11950mm and 14500mm
Width	2500mm
Height	3000mm
Chronology
Successor	Volvo B7RLE Volvo B12BLE

The Volvo B10BLE was a low-entry bus chassis manufactured by Volvo in Sweden between 1993 and 2004. The first prototypes were built in 1992, but mass production started in 1993, only a year after the high-floor B10B. It was popular in Australia, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. It had the engine mounted on the rear overhang of the bus. It became the successor of the city bus version of the B10B and was used as a base for single-decker buses worldwide. The B10BLE was available in diesel powered format, and later in a compressed natural gas powered format with the fuel tanks on the roof of the bus. Its low-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 for B7RLE and B12BLE, while the CNG variants were produced until 2004. In the United Kingdom market, Volvo unsuccessfully tried to replace the B10BLE with the B7L in 2001, but realized that it was not as popular among the customers and offered the B7RLE from 2003.

The Volvo B10BLE features a Volvo DH10A engine with a displacement of 9,600 cc (586 cu in). It is an inline four-stroke six-cylinder diesel engine with a turbocharger and intercooler. The engine has a power output of either 245 or 285 bhp (183 or 213 kW). The engine is able to meet Euro II emissions limits.