BYD secures important Nottingham bus tender

BYD
March 31, 2015

BYD is to supply a total of 13 of its advanced pure electric 12m ebuses to Nottingham City Council (NCC), along with associated charging equipment.

The bus purchase has been facilitated by a £1.4m grant from the DfT Green Bus Fund. The remaining funds of £2.1m 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. 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, with more power generated locally via waste incineration and PV panels.

In the multi million pound purchase contract, BYD, which plans to deliver the vehicles in late 2015, is providing a five-year warranty on its proven power train components based on the company’s renowned Iron-Phosphate battery technology. BYD is the biggest producer of pure electric buses in the world and its 12m ebus has been trialled in 42 major European cities. Operators have experienced considerable operating cost benefits thanks to the lower price of electricity versus diesel.

The buses for Nottingham City Council will arrive with a comprehensive service support package which includes training for drivers and maintenance engineers.

Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, said the electric buses already operating in the city have helped to reduce noise and improve air quality. “As a council we are committed to providing sustainable transport solutions, more electric buses will mean reduced operating costs and deliver clear environmental and health benefits when compared to operating traditional diesel powered buses”.

“This purchase order is a potential game changer for BYD. Nottingham is recognized as being at the forefront of innovative public transport solutions and has prior experience operating electric buses from other manufacturers”,says Isbrand Ho, Managing Director, BYD Europe. “The fact that Nottingham CityCouncil has now selected our ebuses after a comprehensive evaluation programme involving a variety of competitors is highly significant. We are expecting that other major operators will follow Nottingham’s lead”.

About BYD

BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest companies and has successfully expanded globally. Specializing in battery technologies, their green mission to “solve the whole problem” has made them industry pioneers and leaders in several High-tech sectors including High-efficiency Automobiles, Electrified Public Transportation, Environmentally-Friendly Energy Storage, Affordable Solar Power and Information Technology and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) services.

As the world’s largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, their mission to create safer and more environmentally friendly battery technologies has led to the development of the BYD Iron Phosphate (or "Fe") Battery. This fire-safe, completely recyclable and incredibly long-cycle 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 buses, and lineup of automobiles. Their mission lies not just in sales growth, but also in sociological integration and local job creation as they have poured incredible investments into developing offices, dealerships and manufacturing facilities in the local communities they now call home, truly a first for Chinese companies. For more information, please visit www.byd.com