BYD set to expand its electric bus fleet

Observers of the electric bus business are awaiting the outcome of trials in Paris following the recent announcement by China-based BYD, the world’s largest producer of “pure electric” buses – 10,000 have been produced so far – that it has secured a six-month trial of one of its buses with RATP, the French public transport operator RATP.

The bus begins operations next month and trials run until February 2017. Operational experience will span a range of ambient temperatures from late summer to winter. The trial will include operation on routes 21 and 147.

Elisabeth Borne, RATP chief executive officer, said: “The conclusion of this new agreement shows the ambition of RATP to become a major player in the energy transition of the public transport sector. We wish to test a maximum of vehicles before launching massive tenders from 2017. With great support from STIF, the Paris metropolis will become the first in the world possessing a fully ecologic bus fleet.”

Isbrand Ho, managing director of BYD Europe based in The Netherlands declared: “This is a significant step for BYD since France and in particular Paris is recognised as a public transport thought leader globally. We heard of the tremendous commitment to improving air quality by both the French government and the Paris regional government when we attended the UN’s COP21 discussions here last December. Now, we are delighted to be contributing one of our buses to the trial programme underway in the city”.

In France, from 2020, all public transport organisations must plan fleet renewals to include at least 50% of clean vehicles.

The “Bus 2025” project requires renewal of the entire RATP fleet to clean vehicles. Several milestones are in place to achieve this by 2025 when the fleet should consist of 80 per cent electric buses and 20 per cent CNG buses.

This plan affects the entire RATP bus network in Île-de-France, one of the largest in the world. It has 350 lines and transports each year 1.1 billion passengers with a fleet consisting of 4,500 vehicles. The issue is seen as important as buses contribute 50 per cent of the carbon footprint of the RATP.

BYD claims its 12m ebus used in the Paris trial has been proven in similar pilot studies in over 150 cities worldwide, and will form Europe’s largest full size pure electric bus fleet when 51 enter service in London later this year.

BYD is understood to be in the process of introducing a full range of electric buses – ranging from an 8.6m midi bus to an 18m articulated bus and a double decker.

BYD has a business operation in France and may well be on the point of setting one up in the UK. It so far has a registered office at 235 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QT, UK.

For example, BYD is working with Transport for London (TfL) and Metroline on an introduction programme which includes driver training and the installation of fast charging equipment at Metroline’s Willesden Bus Garage in north London.

The 10.2m long bus features full air conditioning and seating for 54 passengers with a further 27 standees spaces (total passengers: 81).

BYD claims its iron phosphate batteries deliver 345 kWh of power and can run for up to 190 miles of typical urban driving according to the internationally recognised SORT test conditions. Recharging takes just four hours and can be completed overnight using low-cost off-peak electricity.

According to Ho "This is not a hybrid bus but a totally emissions free product which will give London a world leading position in its efforts to improve air quality".

                                      Delivery vans and forklifts

BYD offers other all-electric vehicles, including vans. For example it has supplied global logistics specialist DHL with what it calls “a pioneering fleet” of pure electric distribution vehicles.

The first batch of 35 pure electric vans – BYD’s all new T3 commercial vehicle model - has been delivered to DHL International Air Express Co. to provide daily logistics in the Central Business District of the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and surrounding areas. This DHL operation in China is close enough to be under the watchful eye of BYD engineers.

The fleet, the start of a strategic cooperation between DHL and BYD, includes warehousing, city distribution and other fields in the Chinese market. If this initial fleet proves successful it is anticipated that more BYD logistics vehicles will enter service with DHL.

The T3 van uses the “advanced technology and design” of BYD’s MPV family of vehicles.

It has a 3.5-cubic-metre cargo space which can take modest loads up to 800kg. The T3 has a gross weight of 2,625kg. The maximum torque is 310Nm and the maximum speed 130 km/h. The overall range between recharges is more than 200km using similar iron-phosphate batteries.

In addition to the T3, BYD has launched its T5 and T7 pure electric logistics vehicles with larger cargo capacity to meet more logistics needs. The T5 has a gross weight of 7,320 kg and a range of up to 250 km while the T7 has a gross weight of 10,695 kg and a range of up to 200 km.

Besides being the world’s largest supplier of pure electric buses, BYD claims “accumulated sales of BYD new energy passenger cars” in 2015 exceeded 50,000. BYD claims this makes it “No.1” in the world and accounts for about an 11 per cent share of the entire global “new energy” car market – namely vehicles charged from public utilities, including those owning

In March last year, BYD said it had secured “an important bus tender to supply13 “pure electric” 12m ebuses to Nottingham City Council (NCC), along with associated charging equipment.

The bus purchase has been facilitated by a £1.4 million grant from the UK’s Green Bus Fund. The remaining funds of £2.1 million have been raised via the NCC Workplace Parking Levy. This builds on the existing fleet of 45 electric buses and expanding tram project within the city of Nottingham in the UK.

According to BYD, NCC is working in partnership across Greater Nottingham to encourage all modes of transport - buses, taxis, trams, bikes and cars - to move onto a sustainable electric platform.

BYD provides a five-year warranty on its power train components based on iron-phosphate battery technology.

A month earlier, BYD announced it was set to “revolutionise the forklift market” across the continent of Europe with a “mould-breaking range” of models available across three key markets.

BYD says “all share a unique selling proposition – they offer the lowest costs of operation in the business”.

BYD claims to have “a total solution” for the materials handling industry offering “ground breaking costs of operation, batteries for life, strong environmental performance and a comprehensive range which is still in its earliest stage.”

BYD says it plans to offer no less than 40 models “before long”. They will be built at BYD’s “state-of-the-art” dedicated production plant".

BYD Auto Co. Ltd. Is aa China-based automobile manufacturer situated in Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BYD Company. It was founded in 2003, following BYD Company's acquisition of Tsinchuan Automobile Company in 2002.  The company’s principal activity is the design, development, manufacture and distribution of passenger cars and buses sold under the BYD brand. It also has a 50:50 joint venture with Daimler AG, known as Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd. This develops and manufactures luxury electric cars sold under the Denzabrand.