MCV Evolution

Last updated

MCV Evolution
DE COURCEY Coventry - Flickr - secret coach park (1).jpg
Travel de Courcey MCV Evolution-bodied MAN 12.240 approaching Pool Meadow Bus Station in Coventry in September 2016
Overview
Manufacturer MCV
Production2003–2018
AssemblyEgypt
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor type Low floor
Low entry
Chassis Alexander Dennis Dart SLF
Alexander Dennis Enviro200
MAN A22
MAN A66 (14.220/14.240)
MAN A76 (12.220/12.240)
Mercedes-Benz OC500LE
VDL SB180
VDL SB200 (one only)
Volvo B7RLE
Volvo B8RLE
Powertrain
Capacity27 to 41 seated
Dimensions
Length8.5m to 12.1m
Width2.5m
Height3.0m
Chronology
Predecessor MCV Stirling
Successor MCV Evora

The MCV Evolution (stylised as eVolution; internal designation: MCV C102) is a low floor and low entry single-decker bus body built by Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles. It was unveiled in 2003 as the successor to the MCV Stirling. The MCV Evolution 2 (internal designation: MCV C124RLE) was launched, initially on Mercedes-Benz chassis in 2011.

Contents

Design

The MCV Evolution is based on the previous Stirling body, retaining a rounded roof dome, albeit no longer peaked, and having options for either a double-curvature windscreen or a single-curvature windscreen. The Evolution body was first offered on the MAN 12.220 (A76), 12.240 (A76), 14.220 (A66) and 14.240 (A66) however there were plans to body on an even shorter MAN chassis, the 10.220, which can be built as short as 8.5m long. From late 2005 it was offered on the Alexander Dennis Dart SLF chassis. In October 2009, MCV and dealer Arriva Bus & Coach unveiled a MCV Evolution VDL SB180 at Coach and Bus Live 2009.[ citation needed ]

The MCV Evolution was also offered on larger full-size single-decker bus chassis, such as the Volvo B7RLE, Volvo B8RLE, MAN A22 and Mercedes-Benz OC500LE. [1] One Evolution body was built on VDL SB200 chassis in 2012 as a static demonstrator for the Arriva Bus & Coach dealership, being sold two years later to Welsh independent Richards Brothers of Cardigan. [2] The Evolution was eventually replaced by the long-wheelbase MCV Evora on Volvo B7RLE chassis in 2018, although the Evolution 2 remained in production on shorter, more lightweight chassis.[ citation needed ]

The original Evolution body is internally designated by MCV as the C102 on Alexander Dennis, MAN, VDL, and Volvo chassis and as the C120LE on Mercedes-Benz chassis, while the Evolution 2 body is internally designated as the C124RLE on Mercedes-Benz and Volvo chassis and as the C130RLE on MAN chassis. [3] [4]

Operators

United Kingdom

Transport for London contractors Docklands Buses and Metroline both purchased examples.

The Evolution body is particularly popular with the United Kingdom's independent bus operators; the first Evolution 2 bodied Volvo B7RLEs were delivered to independent Pulhams Coaches of Bourton on the Water in 2012. [3] East Yorkshire Motor Services took delivery of ten Evolution-bodied Volvos between 2014 and 2016, the first four on Volvo B7RLE chassis, [5] while the remainder were delivered on the new B8RLE chassis. [6]

Travel de Courcey of Coventry was another popular operator of MCV Evolutions, purchasing examples on both MAN and Mercedes-Benz chassis. [7]

Hong Kong

Kowloon Motor Bus MCV Evolution bodied Volvo B7RLE in Hong Kong in August 2015 KMB RG4644 AVC52 87K.jpg
Kowloon Motor Bus MCV Evolution bodied Volvo B7RLE in Hong Kong in August 2015

Kowloon Motor Bus were the only purchaser of the MCV Evolution body in Hong Kong, taking delivery of 70 Evolutions built on Volvo B7RLE chassis in two batches between 2010 and 2012 for use on lower-capacity bus services in the region. [8]

New Zealand

Tranzit Group of New Zealand purchased 58 Evolutions.[ specify ] Go Bus of New Zealand currently operates 43 of the type, 31 being the 15.250 MAN chassis and the remaining 12 being 14.240 MAN chassis.

Philippines

The Evolution has a handful of operators in the Philippines, with the main operators of Evolutions being the UBE Express Airport Bus and Bonifacio Global City operator BGC Bus. Delta Neo Solutions (DNS) also operates a handful of units for the Okada Manila Hotel, and briefly for the P2P Express Bus Service. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrightbus</span> Northern Irish bus manufacturer

Wrightbus is a Northern Irish bus manufacturer and a pioneer of the low-floor bus. The company was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and was later run by his son William Wright, until it was acquired in 2019 by British businessman Jo Bamford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B7RLE</span> Low-entry single-deck bus chassis

The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entry single-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013, with production of the B7RLE continuing until 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander ALX200</span> Single-decker bus body

The Alexander ALX200 was a single-decker bus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was created for low-floor bus chassis produced from the late 1990s and was launched in spring 1996 as a low-floor replacement of the Alexander Dash. It was marketed in Alexander's 'ALX' series to fill in the gap between the ALX100 minibus and the ALX300 full-size single-decker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VDL Bus & Coach</span> Netherlands based bus manufacturer

VDL Bus & Coach is a Dutch vehicle manufacturer. It is an amalgamation of several bus building companies within the VDL Groep. VDL Bus & Coach has manufacturing plants in Belgium and the Netherlands. By 2018 VDL Bus & Coach sold 500 electric buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro300</span> Full-size single-deck bus body and chassis

The Alexander Dennis Enviro300 is a light-weight full-size single-decker bus that was built by Alexander Dennis and its predecessor TransBus International between 2001 and 2015. The design was the first of the new Enviro range of buses from TransBus and also the first bus to be built as an integral bus by TransBus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VDL SB200</span> Motor vehicle

The VDL SB200 is a 12 m light-weight, low floor single decker bus chassis that was produced from 2001 to 2014 by VDL Bus & Coach. It superseded the SB220.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VDL DB250</span> Twin-axle double-decker bus chassis

The VDL DB250 is a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midibus</span> Single-decker bus between 8 and 11 metres in length

A midibus is a classification of single-decker minibuses which are generally larger than a traditional minibus but smaller than a full-size single decker and can be anywhere between 8 metres and 11 metres long. While used in many parts of the world, the midibus is perhaps most common in the United Kingdom, where operators have found them more economical, and to have a sufficient number of seats compared to full size single-decker buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arriva Scotland West</span> British bus operating company

Arriva Scotland West was a bus company based in Inchinnan, near Paisley, Scotland. It was formed in 1997 as a rebranding of the former Clydeside 2000 company when purchased by Arriva. On 26 March 2012, the business was sold to McGill's Bus Services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MCV Bus and Coach</span>

MCV Bus and Coach is an Egyptian manufacturer of bus bodies founded in 2002 when Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles bought some of the design rights of defunct English bus builder Marshall Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Eclipse</span> Single-deck bus body on Volvo low-floor chassis

The Wright Eclipse is a low-floor single-deck bus body that was built by Wrightbus between 1999 and 2019. The second-generation Eclipse 2 was launched in 2008, followed by the third-generation Eclipse 3 in 2015. The Eclipse, and its sister design the Solar, were named for a solar eclipse which was visible in the UK in 1999, the year of its introduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaxton Centro</span> Motor vehicle

The Plaxton Centro was a low entry single-decker bus bodywork designed by Bluebird Vehicles and manufactured by Plaxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Endurance</span> Step-entrance bus body on Scania N113 and Volvo B10B chassis

The Wright Endurance was a step-entrance single-decker bus body on Scania N113 and on Volvo B10B chassis by Wrightbus between 1992 and 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-deck bus</span> Bus with a single deck for passengers

A single-decker bus or single-decker is a bus that has a single deck for passengers. Normally the use of the term single-decker refers to a standard two-axled rigid bus, in direct contrast to the use of the term double-decker bus, which is essentially a bus with two passenger decks and a staircase. These types of single-deckers may feature one or more doors, and varying internal combustion engine positions. The majority of single-deckers have a length of up to 12 m, although some exceptions of longer buses exist. They also typically weigh between 11 and 14 t.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaxton Pointer</span> Single-deck midibus body on Dennis and Volvo chassis

The Plaxton Pointer is a single-deck midibus body that was manufactured between 1991 and 2006, predominantly on the Dennis Dart chassis, by Reeve Burgess, Plaxton and latterly Alexander Dennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arriva Buses Wales</span> Bus operator in North Wales and Chester

Arriva Buses Wales is a bus operator providing services in northern Wales and Chester in northern England. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B8RLE</span> Low-entry single-deck bus chassis

The Volvo B8RLE is a 7.7-litre-engined low-entry bus chassis manufactured by Volvo since 2013 for left-hand drive markets. It was designed as a replacement for the B7RLE and the B9RLE. The right-hand drive version was launched in November 2014.

Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd., shortened to Merkavim, is the largest bus manufacturing company in Israel. They produce many different types of buses, including tourism coaches, urban buses, long-distance buses and minibuses. In addition to this, they also provide specialist buses, such as bullet-proof buses, prisoner-transport vehicles and VIP transport vehicles. The company was founded in 1946 and is jointly owned by Israeli vehicle-importer Mayer Cars and Trucks and by AB Volvo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caetano City Gold</span> Low-floor single-decker bus bodywork produced since 1997

The Caetano City Gold is a series of low-floor, single-decker bus bodywork designs produced by Salvador Caetano since 1997. As of 2022, the City Gold has been launched with diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen fuel cell and full electric powertrains.

References

  1. "Mercedes-Benz OC500LE MCV Evolution C124RLE". Bus & Coach Buyer. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 16 December 2011. p. 16.
  2. "Arriva Bus & Coach holds Wellingborough open day". Bus & Coach Buyer. Spalding. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2018. From the bus range was an 11.1m VDL SB180 with Euro5 Cummins engine and MCV bodywork seating 39. I understand that the first 12m VDL SB200 Euro5 with MCV body has just been delivered to Richards Brothers of Moylgrove.
  3. 1 2 Jones, Stuart (5 September 2014). "Volvo B7RLE MCV". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 1292. Spalding. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. Jones, Stuart (14 November 2014). "Volvo unveils first B8RLE". Bus & Coach Buyer. Spalding. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. "EYMS delivery includes its first MCV-bodied vehicles". Coach & Bus Week . Peterborough. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  6. "Vehicle reliability keeps East Yorkshire Motor Services coming back to Volvo Bus" (Press release). Volvo Buses United Kingdom and Ireland. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  7. "Coventry Park & Ride gets nostalgic re-launch". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  8. Johansson, Martin (29 May 2009). "Order for 100 Volvo buses in Hong Kong" (Press release). Volvo Buses. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  9. "Commuters, This New P2P Route Makes Traveling From the South a Whole Lot Better". SPOT.ph. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2023.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to MCV Evolution at Wikimedia Commons