London, England – Transportation for London (TFL), known for their iconic red, double-decker buses, has contracted with China’s BYD Co. Ltd. to manufacture a battery electric replacement.
London Mayor Boris Johnson says, "Many believed that a pure electric double-decker bus would not be possible due to the size of the battery packs required to power it. However by working with BYD and utilizing the latest cutting edge technology, London has been able to secure another world first. The new electric double-decker trial will see the zero emission double-decker buses manufactured by BYD enter service on Route 16 from October."
BYD Managing Director of European Operations Isbrand Ho adds, "We are delighted to be chosen by London as its partner for the world debut of our new pure electric double-decker. As the Mayor has said, this is genuinely world beating new technology. Since BYD is by far the world's largest maker of zero emission pure electric buses, and as such is keen to promote their take up and use as quickly as possible, we are also pleased to have today supported the Declaration and pledged BYD to helping promote zero – not just ultra low – emission vehicles on the streets of the world's major cities."
BYD's Battery Electric bus employs many technologies developed in-house by a staff of more than 15,000 R&D engineers including the BYD Iron-Phosphate Battery which boasts the only 12-year-battery warranty in the industry.
The bus can drive for more than 155 miles even in heavy city traffic on a single charge. As of April 1st, 2015, BYD bus fleets have completed greater than 50 million miles in revenue service and have been evaluated by more than 150 cities in 36 countries around the world. To date, BYD has built more than 5,000 electric buses globally.
Source BYD Co. Ltd.