Bogotá Launches All-electric Taxi Fleet using Long-Range BYD e6 Cross-over Sedan

Bogotá Launches All-electric Taxi Fleet using Long-Range BYD e6 Cross-over Sedan

Topics: BYD e6

Bogotá Launches All-electric Taxi Fleet using Long-Range BYD e6 Cross-over Sedan

BYD
December 12, 2012

Bogotá, Colombia – December 11th, 2012: BYD Ltd and Praco Didacol (BYD’s Colombian distribution partner) will hold a Press Conference tomorrow, December 12th at 10:30AM at the Avenida el Dorado No 78-20 Bogotá,Colombia, with BYD’s Chairman Chuanfu Wang to announce that the first South American, all-electric taxi fleet will be launching next month. Not only will Colceincias – Bogotá’s Technology, Science and Innovation Administration be getting several vehicles,but 46 BYD e6’s will be placed into Taxi service as of Q1 2013 in the Colombian capital. Ms. Stella Li BYD Senior Vice President commented, “BYD is very impressed with the leadership in Colombia and their vision to be a part of the new clean technology era with electrified public transportation. We hope to triple our growth and presence in Colombia by next year.”

The District Government authorized this scalable all-electric Taxi pilot in an effort to improve the air quality in Colombia’s dense cities. Forty-nine (49) BYD e6, 5-passenger, all-electric cross-over sedans received approval from the Colombia Ministry of Transportation to operate as taxis in the city of Bogotá. These vehicles are not only the most spacious and comfortable Taxis in Colombia (13.6 cubic foot or 0.385 cubic meters for passenger and cargo space), but are extremely quiet on roads and completely non-polluting (no direct emissions). A measure was adopted by the Ministry of Environment in 2009 so that these types of vehicles could be imported with zero tax and electric cars in Bogotá do not have license plate restrictions like other petroleum vehicles. “It is important that the capital city be the first to lead a project like this, because of it’s size and the demand. The idea is that this project can be replicated in other places in Colombia”, assured Marcela Bonilla, Sectorial Director of Urban Affairs for the Ministry of the Environment. According to Susana Muhamad, District Secretary of Environment, “this project will permit us to analyze the behavior of the electric cars, with the purpose of reduce the dependence on fossil fuels”.

About BYD

BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest companies, and one of the very few who have successfully expanded globally. Specializing in battery technologies, their green mission to “solve the whole problem” has made them industry pioneers and leaders in sectors including Automobiles, Public Transit, Energy Storage, Photovoltaic and Information Technology manufacturing services.

Already being the world’s largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, their mission to create safer and more environmentally friendly battery technologies has lead to the development of the Iron Phosphate (Fe) Battery. This non-combustible, completely recyclable and incredibly long lasting technology has become the core of their clean energy platform that has expanded into automobiles, buses, trucks, utility vehicles and energy storage facilities. BYD and all of their shareholders, including the great American Investor Warren Buffett, see these environmentally and economically forward products as the way of the future.

BYD has made a strong entrance to the North, Central and South American markets with their battery electric bus, and lineup of automobiles. Their mission lies not just in sales growth, but also in sociological integration as they have poured incredible into developing offices, dealerships and manufacturing facilities in the local communities they now call home, truly a first for a Chinese company. For more information, please visit www.byd.com, www.bydeurope.com, www.facebook.com/bydcompany, or pr@byd.com.