Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), the largest bus operator in Hong Kong, has put 16 BYD electric buses into service and has also ordered 52 electric-double-decker buses from BYD-ADL for delivery next year.
The 16 BYD electric buses that have now entered service are single-deck solo buses. According to KMB, it had previously completed the testing and approval procedures for the vehicles. The vehicles are to be successively deployed on busy corridors, including Line 6.
KMB already had BYD electric monoplanes in operation. The public transport operator has praised the improvements in the new model: it is four per cent lighter, has a 16 per cent increased passenger capacity (81 passengers) and the charging process is a full two hours faster.
KMB has also purchased 52 electric double-deckers from BYD-ADL. Altough the public transport provider has not revealed which model, it could be an offshoot of the Enviro EV400, which is widely used in the UK. The double-deckers will use BYD’s Blade battery and have solar panels on the roof. The range is said to be up to 300 kilometres, and each bus will be able to transport up to 120 passengers.
In March this year, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) announced that it is to build an initial ten electric double-decker buses for Hong Kong operator The Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB). It is not clear from the public transport providers new announcement whether these buses are included in the newly announced numbers.
The new buses on order will bring the total number of electric buses used by KMB to 82 in 2023. After that, the number is expected to increase rapidly: By 2025, KMB wants to procure another 500 electric buses.
Keyword: Hong Kong expands electric bus fleet