BYD Type A electric school bus introduced. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a new electric school bus and this bus is currently targeted at the American market, however, it could be very useful for the Indian market too. It has a range of around 225 kilometres and is capable of supporting an electric grid via its battery pack.
BYD manufactures a wide range of electric vehicles. It has everything from electric cars and minivans to large electric buses in its portfolio. The manufacturer is intent on driving its electric cars and commercial buses into the Indian market. However, it also has built a zero-emissions school bus that is currently targeted only at the American market.
The American school bus market is huge and yet very few electric school buses exist. BYD intends to change this scenario. In 2021, the BYD Type D was introduced. It is a full-size school bus that can accommodate up to 84 passengers.
Now, the brand has introduced the Type A, which is a smaller bus with a capacity of up to 30 students. This is meant to ply on routes that a lower number of students take. The BYD Type A is powered by a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery pack that is known to have a higher energy density than Lithium-Ion batteries.
To ensure more compatibility across various charging points, the BYD Type A can be charged via a 19.2kW single-phase AC grid as well as DC fast-chargers with a capacity of up to 150kW. And with this, we come to the feature that sets this bus apart from the other EVs.
The BYD Type A boasts vehicle-to-grid charging capabilities. A cable can be used to connect the school bus to the power grid of the school or any other building. If it is within the capacity of the bus, the school bus can power the electricity grid or in other words, the classroom. This is bound to be a useful feature at some point in time.
Samuel Kang, Head of Total Technology Solutions at BYD was quoted as saying, Our Type A bus bi-directional charging capability is a game-changer. School buses can be charged overnight when energy demand is low, and clean emission-free energy can be fed back into the classroom during school hours when the bus is parked keeping classrooms well-lit and students and teachers plugged-in.”
Apart from this, there is yet another feature that sets the Type A apart. It features an optional powered liftgate that can lift up to 360 kilograms. This makes the bus capabie of carrying wheelchairs used by the differently-abled. BYD also claims that operating expenses including fuel and maintenance is 60 percent cheaper.
Thoughts On BYD Type A Electric School Bus Being Introduced
The BYD Type A is a bus that can safely transport school children while benign environment-friendly too. Maybe it is time for Indian schools to also consider electric school buses. EVs make perfect sense for the usage pattern of a school bus and it is easy to see why.
The range is perfect for the short intra-city runs and maintenance costs are reduced by a huge margin while also reducing pollution. Meanwhile, in the Indian market, BYD started deliveries of the e6 electric car. More BYD products are expected to reach the Indian market soon.
Keyword: BYD Electric School Bus With 225Kms Range Debuts: Do We Need Such Buses In India Too?