BYD has received an order for 52 electric buses from public transport operator Transdev in Sweden. The order includes 44 15-metre electric buses and eight 12-metre buses for use in the province of Gästrikland on the east coast of Sweden.
The 15-metre buses with a double axle at the rear are a vehicle category that is common in Scandinavian countries, especially in intercity operations. The demand for the electric three-axle buses is so high there that Solaris, for example, has also included such a 15-metre bus in its range in 2020 – but only purely electrically.
BYD’s 15-metre model has three doors and an “improved” LFP battery technology – BYD does not get more specific in its announcement here. According to the SORT II process, the vehicles are said to have a range of 450 kilometres, making the buses “a practical option for many public transport operators”. The 15-metre bus is an LE model, i.e. “low entry”, but the interior is somewhat elevated after the low entry. The twelve-metre bus is BYD’s well-known low-floor model, which is widely used as a city bus.
It is Transdev’s largest electric bus order to date for BYD – the Chinese company says it has already delivered or has on order more than 700 electric buses in Scandinavian countries. These vehicles have already covered 59 million kilometres, BYD said.
“The fact that as many as 52 out of 66 regional buses will be powered by electricity will have a significant impact on both emissions and noise levels,” says Fredrik Beckius, general manager Transdev in Gästrikland/Hälsingland. “We know from experience that this will have a positive effect on passengers, drivers and those who live and move in the community. For Transdev, sustainability is an important issue, and we are confident that BYD as a supplier meets our requirements throughout its production chain.”
Edison Yin, BYD Regional Manager Nordics, added: “We are proud to support Transdev as they expand their green fleet of zero-emission electric buses in Sweden, a country that, like BYD, is prioritising sustainability and eco-friendly solutions. BYD eBuses are playing a pivotal role in empowering the electrification of public transport across the Nordics, and we expect our latest pioneering technology to further accelerate this transition as we continue to innovate and inspire eMobility on a global scale.”
Keyword: BYD to deliver 52 electric buses for Transdev