The Volvo B9TL is a low-floor double-decker bus built by Volvo from 2002 until 2018. It superseded the Volvo Super Olympian and the Volvo B7TL. The 2-axle version has been superseded by the Volvo B5TL in 2014 and the 3-axle version has been superseded by the Volvo B8L in 2018.
Chassis
The Volvo B9TL chassis shared the same design of the Volvo B7TL. The key difference from both its predecessors, the Volvo Super Olympian and Volvo B7TL, was a new 9.3-litre engine originally designed by Renault. The radiator was located at the rear offside, similar to the smaller B7TL. The front module design was shared with other low-floor bus chassis built by Volvo, and independent suspension is fitted at the front axle (replaced by conventional front suspension after some years of production).
The B9TL was initially offered in three-axle format, and the two-axle variant was added in 2006 to replace the B7TL. The driveline comprises a Volvo D9A Euro III engine (rated at 300 bhp or 340 bhp), which was later replaced by the Volvo D9B Euro IV/V/EEV engine (using selective catalytic reduction technology; two versions were offered - the D9B260 rated at 260 bhp for two-axle version, and a higher powered D9B310, rated at 310 bhp, for three-axle version), and coupled to a ZF 5/6-speed gearbox. Volvo also offered the Voith four-speed gearbox as an alternative gearbox option.
The front wheels of the three-axle B9TL are usually supplied by Alcoa, but some buses (including the three prototypes) had all their wheels supplied by Alcoa.
There were rumours that the Euro III version B9TL that was once planned to being equipped with a German made MAN D2866 series engines with Voith DIWA 864.3E gearbox for Berlin. But since both sides are point out there have Difficulties in Mechanical Configuration, the B9TL version with MAN engine has been completely shelved permanently. This is fully explained that they have originally being expecting for a version to Berlin before they getting the final result that showed fail at the end.
Asia Pacific
Hong Kong
Kowloon Motor Bus
A Volvo B9TL prototype with a Volgren CR223LD body was delivered to Hong Kong in July 2003 for Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) as a demonstrator for the Eco-Driveline concept. It was put into service in April 2004 and registered as MF5119.
In early 2004, a Volvo B9TL prototype with a facelifted version of the TransBus Enviro500 body arrived in Hong Kong. It had a slightly different front and rear design, and its rear route box was moved beneath the upper deck rear window. After TransBus International was renamed Alexander Dennis in May 2004, it became the only TransBus Enviro-series bus with a non-Dennis chassis as well as the only facelifted version of the Enviro500 to be manufactured during this period.
Later in the same year, a Wright-bodied B9TL prototype was also delivered. The rear design of its Wright body was different from that of the Wright-bodied Volvo Super Olympian, with the number plate moved beneath (and a little to the right of) the rear route box. In 2005 KMB ordered 63 B9TL chassis with Wright bodywork and 50 with Enviro500 bodies. The Wright-bodied buses entered service between 2005 and 2006, and the Enviro500-bodied buses entered service in late 2006/2007. These were followed by another 35 buses with Enviro500 bodywork, they entered service in 2007/2008.
In 2009, KMB ordered 60 Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied B9TLs, quickly followed by another 115, they have begun delivery as of early 2010. These were followed by an order for a further 115 Wright-bodied B9TLs in 2010. All these buses entered service between 2010 and 2012.
A 10.6-metre 2-axle B9TL was put into service by KMB in 2010. It was equipped with a Volvo D9B-310 engine and a ZF EcoLife 6AP1403B gearbox.
Starting from June 2017, some of the new B9TLs were painted with the new livery of red and silver stripes, with the motto "Heartbeat of the City" shown on the top of the vehicle. The last Wright-bodied 12-metre B9TL was put into service in August 2019.
KMB ordered three Gemilang bodied B9TLs in 2017. They were registered in September 2018 and entered service in March 2019.
As of July 2020, there are 953 Volvo B9TLs in service with KMB.
Long Win Bus
Long Win Bus operates 10 B9TL with Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bodywork which entered service in 2007/2008. All vehicles in this batch are almost identical to those with Kowloon Motor Bus.
Due to a surplus in Long Win's fleet, all of them have been transferred to KMB from 2020 to 2022.