MCV Evolution

MCV Evolution
MCV Evolution
	Travel de Courcey MCV Evolution-bodied MAN 12.240 approaching Pool Meadow Bus Station in Coventry in September 2016
Overview
Manufacturer	MCV
Production	2003–2018
Assembly	Egypt
Body and chassis
Doors	1 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
Capacity	27 to 41 seated
Dimensions
Length	8.5m to 12.1m
Width	2.5m
Height	3.0m
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.

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 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]

Gallery

Bakers Dolphin MCV Evolution bodied MAN 14.240 rear at Weston-super-Mare station in August 2012
Webberbus MCV Evolution 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE in Burnham-on-Sea in May 2014
Webberbus MCV Evolution 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE in Burnham-on-Sea in May 2014
Somerbus MCV Evolution 2 bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LE in July 2013

References

^ "Mercedes-Benz OC500LE MCV Evolution C124RLE". Bus & Coach Buyer. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 16 December 2011. p. 16.
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ Jones, Stuart (14 November 2014). "Volvo unveils first B8RLE". Bus & Coach Buyer. Spalding. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "EYMS delivery includes its first MCV-bodied vehicles". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "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.
^ "Coventry Park & Ride gets nostalgic re-launch". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ Johansson, Martin (29 May 2009). "Order for 100 Volvo buses in Hong Kong" (Press release). Volvo Buses. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "Commuters, This New P2P Route Makes Traveling From the South a Whole Lot Better". SPOT.ph. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2023.