The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) received their first five battery electric transit buses from BYD. Los Angeles Metros now the first major transit property in the US to begin electrifying their fleet with zero-emissions buses.
Buses and taxis emit nearly 30% of the world’s harmful emissions, yet only account for 1.7% of total vehicle ownership. The new BYD buses have zero emissions.
Los Angeles Metro will test the first five electric buses on routes around the city. The 40-foot buses are built BYD Motors, and drive more than 155 miles on a single charge.
An unveiling ceremony was held at LA Metro’s Patsaouras Transit Plaza behind Union Station. In attendance were LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, LA World Trade Center CEO Stephen Cheung, and BYD Company Founder and Chairman Chuanfu Wang.
BYD’s Battery Electric bus is based on research from 15,000 R&D engineers including the BYD Iron-Phosphate battery which has 12-year-battery warranty.
The buses are powered by BYD’s proprietary in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking system.
BYD electric buses are quiet and comfortable without vibrations, jerks or the noise associated with the conventional buses and combustion engines.
There are 20 more electric buses left on Metro’s contract with BYD Motors. After testing, the city will deploy more electric buses on the streets soon.
BYD Motors established its headquarters in downtown Los Angeles in October 2011 and has now hired over 160 Americans to support BYD Electric Bus and Energy Module factories in Lancaster, California. BYD a subsidiary of BYD Company Ltd, the largest domestic auto-manufacturer and electric-bus manufacturer in China.