Image: BYDBYD handed over the new electric buses to Nankai Rinkan Bus, a bus operator based in Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. The local company will use the fleet on the Koyasan Inland Line, a route connecting Koyasan Station and Okunoin-mae.The latest deployment marks the first time BYD’s electric buses have entered commercial service in Wakayama Prefecture. Nankai Rinkan Bus is using six units of the K8, the largest electric bus BYD offers in Japan. The K8 measures 10.5 metres in length, 2.5 metres in width, and 3.3 metres in height, and has a 5.3-metre wheelbase.BYD offers the K8 in two versions in Japan: urban and suburban. The urban version accommodates 80 people, including 22 passengers in fixed seats, four passengers in folding seats, 53 standing passengers, and the driver. The suburban version has a capacity of 76 people, including 22 passengers in fixed seats, eight passengers in folding seats, 45 standing passengers, and the driver. Both versions also provide two wheelchair spaces.BYD equips the K8 with two 100 kW electric motors, giving the bus a combined output of 200 kW. The large electric bus can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h and climb gradients of up to 15 per cent. It has a 314 kWh LFP battery pack that delivers a range of 240 kilometres and supports charging at up to 90 kW. The company quotes a charging time of up to 3.5 hours, but does not disclose the charging standard. The K8 has a turning radius of 8.3 metres and features air suspension on both axles for enhanced comfort.BYD started selling electric buses in Japan in 2015. The company deployed its first electric bus in Kyoto. “BYD’s EV buses have already been introduced within the Nankai Group, and we prioritised their range and performance that can withstand use in Koyasan, where temperatures can drop to -15°C in winter,” said Nankai Rinkan Bus President and CEO Junichi Wada.byd.com, byd.com