The announcement was made at the first Clean Bus Summit earlier this year which was attended by representatives from major global cities and bus manufacturers. BYD Europe has agreed to commit itself to the objectives of the Clean Bus Declaration which includes a commitment to encourage the widespread use of ultra-low and zero emissions buses by global cities.
The Summit and the Declaration are initiatives of the The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group which connects more than 75 of the world’s greatest cities, representing 550+ million people and one quarter of the global economy.
“Many believed that a pure electric double deck bus would not be possible due to the size of the battery packs required to power it”, the Mayor said in an official statement. “However by working with BYD and utilising the latest cutting edge technology London has been able to secure another world first. The new electric double decker trial will see the zero emission double decker buses manufactured by BYD enter service on Route 16 from October”.
Isbrand Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe, added that the new bus is genuinely world-beating new technology.
C40 is focused on tackling climate change and driving urban action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. BYD is the world’s largest manufacturer of zero emission electric buses. It has already supplied 3,500 units of its ebus model and has orders for a further 4,000. The bus incorporates advanced battery technology that allows it to operate for a full day on a single charge. Its operating costs are also significantly lower than equivalent diesel vehicles.
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