Mar 20 2014
This week Mayor Mileh Gökçek of the Turkish capital – Ankara addressed the media and citizens of his city during a ceremony celebrating the launch of an electrified transportation pilot program.
The trial in Ankara is only the latest in a series of European trials of the BYD Electric Transit Bus. More than 25 major cities have evaluated the bus in revenue service. Results have been impressive across many different duty cycles showing that the bus is capable of up to 24-hour, route-service on a single battery charge (usually competed in 3-5 hours off-peak), unlike the competition that requires in route charging every couple of hours. When compared to conventional diesel or natural gas fueled buses, the BYD electric bus has demonstrated a dramatic reduction (from 80 – 90%) in operating and maintenance costs.
"Ankara City already has one of the greenest fleets in the world with ~1,300 natural-gas-powered buses. This first electric powered bus will be in service between Kuðulu Park and Altýnpark for one month. If the bus is also approved by the public after the testing period we will put out a tender and buy electric buses to be used in capital city's transportation system," said Mayor Gökçek when answering a question about his view on adopting electrified transportation. He continued, "Electric buses do not harm the environment. One bus reduces the equivalent carbon-dioxide consumption of 5,200 trees per year. The battery can be charged in three to five hours and will save a net total of 170,000 Turkish Liras (€54,500) annually." BYD will be coming to BusWorld Turkey in May to display their full line of battery electric buses including the 12 meter, 7 meter, and 18 meter articulated and double-decker models.
About BYD
BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest companies to have 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 or www.facebook.com/bydcompany.